Boy Says He Doesn’t Recall Fatal Stabbing : Trial: Phillip Hernandez, 13, testifies he blacked out after victim punched him at Simi Valley school Feb. 1.

Eighth-grader Phillip Hernandez testified Tuesday that he doesn’t remember fatally stabbing a 14-year-old classmate in February at a Simi Valley junior high school.

Hernandez, 13, on trial for second-degree murder in Ventura County Juvenile Court, said he blacked out after victim Chad Hubbard punched him on the side of the head.

“When I opened my eyes, I saw blood on Chad’s shirt,” Hernandez said.

But Ventura County Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison pointed out to Hernandez that he did not mention anything about blacking out during his interviews with detectives just after the stabbing and told police that he had been aiming for Hubbard’s stomach, not his chest.

Hernandez said he did not remember his interviews with investigators after the stabbing. In his testimony, Hernandez said he obtained the folding knife shortly before the fight when a friend showed it to him. He said he was going to hand the knife right back to his friend, but got distracted.

Tuesday was the first time since his arrest that the defendant talked publicly about the fatal encounter Feb. 1 at Valley View Junior High School. His relatives and Hubbard’s family listened to his testimony as he described the events leading up to the stabbing.

Hernandez said he and Hubbard passed each other in a school hallway shortly before the fight and exchanged insults. Hernandez said he flashed a gang sign at Hubbard, who made a sign with his fingers resembling a gun.

Later, the two ran into each other and Hubbard started the fight, Hernandez said. Before the stabbing occurred, Hubbard threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot him, Hernandez testified.

Prosecutors are calling Hernandez a malicious killer, but Deputy Public Defender Donna Forry is portraying Hubbard as a bully who had been drinking when he provoked the fight and threw the first punches.

Hernandez said he told Hubbard to leave him alone, but Hubbard hit him in the right shoulder, then on the chest and the head.

“When he hit my head, it went like a blackout,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he did not remember pulling out his friend’s folding knife or stabbing Hubbard.

But Hernandez became confused during the cross-examination by Ellison.

Ellison also showed Hernandez pictures that were taken of him shortly after the fight in which there were no apparent bruises.

“You did not have a blackout, did you?” Ellison asked. Hernandez, who appeared bewildered, answered simply, “Yeah.”

Hernandez is expected to continue testifying today before the defense rests.