Boaz murder suspect River Hammett appears in court for bail hearing

BOAZ, Alabama (WAFF) – The suspect in Boaz’s murder appeared in court Friday for a bail hearing.

River Hammett, 25, is accused of fatally stabbing Terfils Saint-Just, 38, in Western Sizzlin parking lot on Tuesday.

Dustin Baker, the chief investigator for the Boaz Police Department, was the only witness during Friday’s hearing.

Baker said that when authorities arrived at the scene, Saint-Just was already dead. Baker said the scene was “extremely horrific” and one of the worst he’s seen in his 20 years as an investigator.

River Hammett charged with murder in connection with stabbing death of Terfils St., 38

Friday’s hearing revealed that St. Just was at Western Sizzlin looking for help finding an address to pay for his car insurance.

Western Sizzlin’s surveillance video shows Hammett, who worked at the restaurant, fighting with St. Just.

Baker said Hammett used a large pocket knife for the stabbing and hid it in a nearby dumpster.

According to the testimony, Saint Justus died of a wound in the heart. Saint-Just also had other postmortem wounds.

Hammett was arrested after a short chase. The authorities consider the incident to be isolated.

According to testimony at Friday’s bond hearing, Hammett told a witness that Saint-Just had raped his sister, but Hammett’s mother said that never happened.

During Friday’s hearing, Baker said Hammett told authorities that Saint-Just also had a knife, but there was no evidence that he did.

On Tuesday morning, Hammett’s mother tried to get him psychiatric help. Hammett’s mother said he had been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, including manic-depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A judge will make a bail decision for Hammett within the next 48 hours.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for December 4.

Hammett remains in the Marshall County Jail.

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