Former Virginia Tech players Jalen Hampton and Jordan Brunson, who were called as witnesses in Etutes defense, were interviewed by federal authorities in September. Blacksburg murder suspect released on bond; lawyer says victim lured suspect with fake Tinder profile, Cow killed, car destroyed in early-morning crash and fire, ACPD seeking information after vehicle stolen with two children inside, Day care worker charged with rape of 3-year-old girl, authorities say, Shenandoah National Park seeing uptick in littering and vandalism, Brush fire affecting nearly 30 acres, according to Rockingham County Fire & Rescue, Local housing market remains strong despite increasing cost of homeowners insurance, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. There was a problem saving your notification. Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, found dead in his apartment June 1. The Smith family quickly left the courthouse on Friday, and Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Patrick Jensen declined comment. 
At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. He is to be under house arrest in their custody in Williamsburg. The law states that juries could not consider such reactions as legitimate justification. Turk spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after watching bailiffs remove the ankle bracelet Etute had been required to wear since being bonded out of jail on June 9. Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a "brutal beating.". Can Scottie Scheffler earn his second consecutive green jacket? A jury in Montgomery County Circuit Court found 19-year-old Isimemen Etute not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. WebIsimemen Etute, a Virginia Beach native, often stayed at Turks house when he was in town for court appearances. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Etute, then an 18-year-old early enrollee at Virginia Tech, fatally beat Smith on May 31 at the Blacksburg restaurant workers apartment, according to court testimony. Etute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates. The prosecuting attorney, Patrick Jensen, also declined comment, referring questions to his boss, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. During testimony Thursday, Etute said he entered Smith's apartment alone -- both teammates waited outside and were not charged with a crime -- and engaged with Smith on a bed. During the investigation, Etute is on suspension from Virginia Tech and its football team. The judge in Etute's case ruled that the new legislation did not apply to this case, as it was enacted after the incident took place, though Turk argued it likely would not have altered the outcome of the trial. 
Isimemen Etute in court for a preliminary hearing in September 2021. Isimemen Etute, a freshman linebacker for the Hokies football team, was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder on June 2. Turk was asked after the verdict came down if Etute should be allowed back at the university. Then he saw him (Smith) reach for something under the bed and hit him five to six times.. Multiple Virginia Tech spokespersons declined comment Saturday about the verdict. He said Etute and Smith had matched on the dating site Tinder, but Smiths Tinder profile indicated he was a woman named Angie. Isimemen "Isi" David Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker. All rights reserved. 
He referred to Smith as a deceitful and dishonest man who defrauded young men for his own sexual gratification., Who is the real victim here? Turk said through tears. One of the prosecutors said at closing arguments Friday that Etute gave different versions of events to police and the jury, and that the charge may have been enough for him to change his testimony. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Van and Rachel are joined by James Turk, the defense attorney representing Isimemen Etute, who was found not guilty in the beating death of a man he initially believed to be a woman (8:23). Something went wrong. This wasnt a first-time meeting. 
Jensen did cede a bit of ground in his rebuttal remarks after Turks emotional final words. Circuit Judge Mike Fleenor didnt preclude the gay panic defense that was the subject of a law passed by the General Assembly last year on a procedural basis. 
The Etute family left the Montgomery County Courthouse through a back exit without speaking to reporters. The 25 points of instruction were read to the jury before closing statements. Smiths family quickly left the room. Isimemen Etute, 18, was arrested for the death of Blacksburg Jerry Smith, who is located at Virginia Tech, police said Wednesdaysaid. Omar Zaheer of Survivor Season 42 joins to talk about the new era of the series, Steve and Paul discuss Frank Lampards new position at Chelsea, Joe, Nathan, and Dave talk course observations and discuss what they saw from certain golfers. There was a problem saving your notification. Etutes mother, Michelle, testified that her son had never been in trouble and was not a flight risk. He has a motive for changing what he said, Jensen said. We ended up presenting a defense which included, to a great extent, completely self-defense. Etute and his parents who left the courtroom through a back exit didnt have a statement to make at this time, according to Turk. According to the school, he was promptly suspended from the football team and Virginia Tech, where he majored in human development. Turk, who has been practicing law for 36 years and tried more than 70 murder cases, nervously paced the hallways while the jury deliberated for more than three hours. 
When the verdict was read to the courtroom, Etutes father, David, collapsed in his seat while his wife Nichelle sobbed. "I think the school that ends up taking him is going to get probably a lot wiser and a much smarter and an exceptional athlete.". Turk spent much of his closing statement arguing Etute, who testified on his own behalf, acted in self-defense after Smith swung at him and reached under his mattress. Turk laid out his case in June 2021 for granting bond for the suspect, having Etute and his mother take the stand. 
According to the U.S. Justice Department, a federal hate crime is defined as an illegal, violent act is driven by bias against people of a certain group, which can be defined by race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, among other categories. Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to gain time to escape the apartment. 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. Isimemen David Etute, left, listens to his defense team in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansbur 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. This time of year, much of the focus is on big signings and trades. I cant imagine being him, Turk said. Isimemen David Etute and defense attorney Jimmy Turk hug at the conclusion of the trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg earlier this year. The last request came in December 2021. Blacksburg Police18-year-old Ismail Etute has been charged with the second-degree murder of 40-year-old Jerry Smith. According to testimony, Etute first connected with Smith in April 2021 on the dating app Tinder, with Smith posing as a woman going by the name "Angie Renee." Etute was arrested June 2, 2021, and charged with the May 31 murder of Jerry Smith, a local Blacksburg man who had posed as a woman online to meet straight, college-aged men. The three-day trial might not have done much to pique their interest. The Commonwealths Attorney says the two first met April 10 for oral sex, and Etute didnt realize Smith was a man until they met again May 31. Copyright 2021 WDBJ. But the defense would still be allowed to argue self-defense, an argument that Burke said was obviously a convincing one given the verdict. Cops found the badly beaten mans body one day later, the newspaper reported. The prosecuting attorney, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Patrick Jensen, declined comment and referred questions to his boss, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt. WebEtute was released to his parents shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday. Police determined Etute and Smith, of Yes. Etute also said in court hed never been in trouble. Im trying to stay strong for the people that support me, I feel like Ive let a lot of people down. Etute lifted his defense attorney Jimmy Turk off the ground in a bear hug with both of them crying. 
She also spoke about how he would help take care of his younger sister with special needs. AuthoritiesEtute and the victim were familiar, but did not provide further details. Ismemen Etute is seen on a Fox 46 broadcast. Those in the Virginia Tech community who need assistance or counseling support may contact: Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant progressing sustainability in our community, through the Commonwealth of Virginia, and around the world. Turk was able to get the lead detective on the case, Ryan Hite, to tell the jury on Thursday during cross-examination that he would have referred Smiths actions in this case obtaining sex through false pretenses to the commonwealths attorney had he known about them. She also spoke about how he would help take care of his younger sister with special needs. Cobb said he was heartbroken that Fridays verdict left him with a similar empty feeling. The charges are a footnote to mistaken-gender killing, of which Isimemen David Etute was acquitted. Isimemen David Etute his hugged by his father David Etute at conclusion of the triall in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday. Turk laid out his case Wednesday for granting bond for the suspect, having Isimemen Etute, 18, was arrested for the death of Blacksburg Jerry Smith, who is located at Virginia Tech, police 35 prospect in '24, picks Michigan, Niumatalolo lands at UCLA, to serve advisory role, Kansas hires Snyder, son of Kansas State legend, How the 2023 NFL draft's top wide receivers dominate in different ways: The stats that really matter, Top NFL draft needs for all 32 teams: We picked out the biggest holes, prospects to target, McShay's two-round NFL mock draft: 63 picks, two trades and five QB landing spots, Which freshman QBs will play in 2023? While Cobb understands there were a lot of variables to this case, he still believes that discrimination was at the heart of the issue, whether Etute knew it or not. Copyright 2021 WDBJ. Blacksburg Police have announced the arrest of a Virginia Tech student in connection to the death of a Blacksburg resident early Wednesday morning. Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, found dead in his apartment June 1. 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. He compared Etute, an "elite college athlete," to Smith, who weighed 153 pounds (just under 70 kilograms). He responded to an welfare check at 119 N. Main Street in Blacksburg on Tuesday night and found Smith dead, according to a statement from Blacksburg police. Etute testified in court that Smith reached for what he thought was a gun under the mattress, but didnt mention that fact when originally questioned in 2021. How Strong Is the Case Against Donald Trump? All Rights Reserved.
Thats just wrong.. The Virginia Tech and Town of Blacksburg communities are united in our shared concern for the welfare of all. Etute and his parents headed home for Virginia Beach on Saturday morning to take a deep breath.. Czernicki also testified to finding impressions of a shoe on Smiths face that would have required at least two blows.
He was suspended from the squad last week. The attackers in that case were identified, but never charged. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Prosecutors had earlier told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered Smith was a man. Instead, the jury believed a self-defense argument that Etute feared for his life after seeing the victim "make a reach" toward his bed where a knife was later found. At Wednesdays hearing, Etutes attorney, Jimmy Turk, provided some details about the apparent link between the suspect and the victim. Etute did not call police after the attack, according to the Commonwealths Attorney. That and more in our Masters preview. Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. Isi is extremely grateful for the jurys hard work, deliberation, and verdict., Isi is now focused on picking up where he left off in his pursuit of a college degree and love for the game of football. 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. ", Former Hokie Etute found not guilty of murder, USC football, MLB or both? Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. Tornado kills at least 5 people, causes "widespread" damage in Missouri, Doctor charged after video allegedly shows her poisoning husband's tea, Pence won't appeal subpoena for his testimony, Drug dealer pleads guilty in overdose death of actor Michael K. Williams, Indiana, Idaho governors sign bans on gender-affirming care, More than 600 kids abused in Baltimore Archdiocese, report says, Idaho criminalizes helping minors travel for abortions without parental consent, U.S. lawmakers to meet with Apple, Disney CEOs to discuss China, Anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenging Biden in 2024.