Turk told the jury that the defense was unaware police detectives didnt disclose finding a knife until June 17. There was a problem saving your notification. Jerry was a restaurant manager and I felt violated, Etute said, of discovering Smiths identity. Tharp testified that most of the bones in Smiths face were broken, he had bleeding and swelling inside his brain and he had multiple teeth knocked out. If you find this was in the heat of passion, you shouldnt find him guilty of second degree murder, the crime would be voluntary manslaughter, but what Im telling you is this was not self-defense, Jensen said. Etute was arrested on June 2 and charged with second-degree murder. A suspended Virginia Tech Hokie linebacker took the stand in his own defense during his trial for killing a person who he alleges pretended to be a woman during an intimate encounter. In the aftermath of Virginia Tech linebacker Isi Etute's arrest and second-degree murder charge, authorities have now revealed the official cause of death for Jerry Paul Smith, the 40-year-old . On Friday, Roem said it's her understanding that because the trial will begin after the new law goes into effect next month, it will apply when Etuti's case reaches the courts. The company's filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is 11222352. This is about preventing murder and assault," Roem added. Etute said he worried that Smith was attempting to grab a gun though he'd never seen a weapon which he said prompted him to punch Smith in an alleged act of self-defense. Jurors had to stand from the panel to watch the demonstration. It came out in court Wednesday morning that the victim in last week's homicide, 40-year-old Jerry Paul Smith, and Etute had known each other for a short while. But the reality is that trans people often conceal parts of themselves expressly to avoid the violence, harassment, and discrimination that is so often directed against us, Rosenthal continued. [3] The facts for the most part in this case are not contested, Jensen said, in his closing statement. Police found Smiths body in his apartment on June 1, and Etute was arrested and charged on June 2. Etute matched with Smith on Tinder but Smith's profile indicated he was a woman named 'Angie,' Etute's attorney James Turk told DailyMail.com. In April, Gov. All of the bones in his face were broken and his teeth were also missing, the Roanoke Times reported. A suspended Virginia Tech Hokie linebacker took the stand in his own defense during his trial for killing a person who he alleges pretended to be a woman during an intimate encounter. It would have been applicable, but this (ruling) is purely procedural, Fleenor said. Smith was discovered dead the following day after his family requested a welfare check. Ralph Northam signed legislation that will apply to the use of such defenses in Virginia on July 1. 1 ranking in country, Radford coach Darris Nichols apologizes for DUI. A former Virginia Tech football player accused of killing a man he'd had a sexual encounter with, believing he was a woman, has been acquitted of murder. When he returned to the the darkened Blacksburg apartment on May 31 for what Angie believed would be another sexual encounter, Etute allegedly told detectives, he used his phone flashlight to illuminate her face and discovered she was a man. Roanoke City Council member Joe Cobb, who identifies as a member of the regions LGBT community, had similar thoughts, saying the larger picture was of how LGBTQ people are seen by the wider society and often have been blamed for crimes in which they were the victims. She also told the court her son would help take care of his younger sister with special needs. The prosecution maintained it was a straightforward case to the jury throughout the trial with crime scene photos jurors saw multiple photos of Smiths dead body lying at the foot of his bed including close ups of his bloody face as well as details from Smiths autopsy that highlighted what a one-sided assault it was. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This is trial by ambush, Jensen argued. Who would be more likely to resort to violence? There just needs to be a scintilla, and there may be all there is in this case, its not that much, Fleenor said, in siding with the defense. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Jerry Paul Smith and is located at 119 N Main St Apt 207 Suite 207, Blacksburg, VA 24060-3945. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. That's just wrong.'. Jerry Paul Smith Wiki Jerry Paul Smith Biography Who was Jerry Paul Smith ? Jerry Paul Smith, 40 known as Gigi by his nephews of Blacksburg, VA departed this life, June 1, 2021, at his home. The 25 points of instruction were read to the jury before closing statements. "It is . BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - A man found dead in Blacksburg this week died of blunt force injuries to the head, according to the Roanoke Medical Examiner's Office. Etute told police he thought he was meeting a woman named Angie with whom hed connected on Tinder, and whom hed met for oral sex on April 10. Im not saying what happened was acceptable, but this was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone, Turk reportedly said during the hearing. Blacksburg police found Jerry Paul Smith dead in his North Main Street apartment on June 1. Isimemen "Isi" David Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker. Etute had previously been to Smiths residence on April 10 for oral sex under the impression that he was going to meet someone named Angie, attorneys for both the defense and prosecution told Judge Randal Duncan, according to the Roanoke Times. You have permission to edit this article. Born May 18, 1981 in Montgomery County, VA, he was the son of the late Jerry . Duncan granted bail and said there was no reason to believe that Etute would fail to appear for his trial or that he is a threat to the community. A suspended Virginia Tech football player admitted to police that he beat Blacksburg resident Jerry Paul Smith to death after discovering that Smith, whom the defendant met on the dating app Tinder and with whom he agreed to engage in sexual acts, was a man, prosecutors said, citing police statements. He is now suspended from both the team and the university. Applebaum, 2013 WL 286230 (4th Cir. On Friday, Radford lawyer Jimmy Turk said he is now representing Ismemen David Etute, 18, a Virginia Tech freshman charged with killing Smith. Making the case for granting bond, Etutes attorney had the 18-year-old and his mother take the stand. Isimemen David Etute and Defense Attorney Jimmy Turk hug at the conclusion of the trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty Friday in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith following a three-day trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Listen to the story. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. An arraignment was held Thursday for former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute, accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. Turk had argued for his client to be released on bond, and a judge initially granted it, but Morgan appealed. Thetwo first met April 10 for oral sex, during which Etute was still under the impression Smith was a woman,Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt told theMontgomery County General District Court during a bond hearing on Wednesday morning. In the courtroom, defense attorney Jimmy Turk of Radford said that Smith had solicited Etute for sex. When laying out the case for granting bond, Etute's attorney had the 18-year-old and his mother take the stand. In his opening statements on Wednesday, Defense attorney Jimmy Turk said his client beat Smith because it was the only thing reasonably could do to ensure he got out of Jerry Smiths apartment alive.. The order prohibits Etute from going back to Montgomery County except for court proceedings or to consult with his attorney. Lisateavet selle kohta, kuidas me teie teavet kasutame, leiate meie privaatsuspoliitikast ja kpsiste kasutamise phimtetest. Compounding matters for the defense is that Virginia became the 12th state to implement a ban on the Gay Panic defense in April. Turks hope now is that Etute is able to reclaim his life. British Summer Time begins in March but do you wind your watch forward Britain braces for brutal -9C Arctic snap: Met Office warns more snow and ice could lash the country next Could Northern Ireland become the UK's Silicon Valley? Etute told prosecutors that after learning Smith was not anatomically female, he beat them. The Virginia Tech linebacker charged with second-degree murder was granted bond during a hearing Wednesday morning in Montgomery County General District Court in Christiansburg, Va., as reportedly sordid details emerged surrounding the case.Isimemen David Etute, 18, was arrested on June 2 and charged in the death of Blacksburg, Va., restaurant managerJerry Paul Smith after allegedly punchingand stomping the 40-year-old multiple times on May 31. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, College Football Playoff may finally expand, Patrick Kane trade shows Rockstar Rangers are going for it, Major AEW faction needs direction change and it may have already begun, Knicks' stomping of rival shows they're for real, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released, King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage so he can give it to Andrew. (Smith's family has identified the victim as a gay man, according to ABC affiliate WSET, and Smith is not listed on the Human Rights Campaign's compendium of transgender and non-conforming people killed in 2021.). Jensen did cede a bit of ground in his rebuttal remarks after Turks emotional final words. Virginia Tech linebacker, Ismeme Etute, 18, allegedly stomped a man to death during a Tinder date after he discovered his date had been posing as a woman named 'Angie.' . I felt violated, Etute testified, according to the Times. Etute lifted his defense attorney Jimmy Turk off the ground in a bear hug with both of them crying. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool) The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. Im trying to stay strong for the people that support me, I feel like Ive let a lot of people down. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. A jury found former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen "Isi" Etute not guilty of second-degree murder Friday in the death of Blacksburg resident Jerry Paul Smith . SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF YOUNG BOY IN CALIFORNIA ROAD RAGE SHOOTING. Court records indicate authorities have reason to believe Smith had been killed Monday night.Etute reportedly, told police he had punched Smith five times in the face and stomped on him after discovering the person he thought was a woman was a man.All the bones in Smiths face were broken, teeth were missing and he suffered cranial fractures, an autopsy report revealed.Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Etutes attorney, James Turk, told reporters outside of court on Wednesday. In anobituary, Smith's family remembered restaurant manager whose nephews nicknamed 'Gigi' as a 'polite young man throughout his life'. Signs Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth, LGBTQ+ People Take Up Arms as Fears of Right-wing Hate Groups Grow, Tennessee Gov. Etute also told police that Smith did not fight back. The judge sidestepped the substance of the arguments since the court was only being asked if the defense met what he described as an extraordinarily low standard to allow the jury to consider self-defense. Mary Pettitt, the Montgomery County commonwealths attorney who is pursuing the second-degree murder charge, wrote in an email that Virginia law has a hate crime enhancement statute for assault and battery but not for murder. Smith would go as a man (Jerry Smith) in most contexts but would go as a woman (Angie Smith) on Tinder and when having sex with people. The gallery reacts at the conclusion of Isimemen David Etute trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Friday, May 27, 2022. North Main Street apartment on June 2 's family remembered restaurant manager whose nephews nicknamed '... Care of his younger sister with special needs it, but Morgan appealed apartment on June 2, attorney. Montgomery County, VA, he was the son of the bones in his were. 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