A witness, Donal Phillips of Bristol, said he and Higgins hung out in the afternoon and went to the home of Justin Rodrigue at 5:30 p.m. for the party. Rodrigue lives at 126 High St.
Phillips said Higgins “got very drunk” at Rodrigue’s home and was flatulent “throughout the evening.” A female friend got in an argument with Higgins over the flatulence and slapped his face.
The young woman confirmed that Higgins had been passing gas and that “everyone was upset” about it. She said she slapped Higgins because he “singled her out and called her a tramp,” according to the case report.
Phillips said that after being slapped Higgins got very upset, smashed a beer bottle and stormed out of the house. About 45 minutes later Sandra Ranger “busted” through the back door and said, “Oh my God. I got stabbed. Call 911.”