The charge for second-degree murder will now go to a Montgomery County grand jury to decide if Etute will be indicted. Be Truthful. That has been an issue here in Virginia previously. After being prodded by friends in the prior weeks about whether Angie was actually a woman, Etute admitted he went back to the apartment with twofriends, who waited outside in the hallway of Smith's apartment complex. Etute then decided to meet with Angie once more to determine this, Hite alleged, and the two met up on the night of May 31, 2021, in Smiths apartment. A jury Friday found former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute, 19, not guilty of second-degree murder in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith, The Roanoke Times reports. A graduate of VCU, Megan previously worked as a reporter for the Rappahannock Record. The 2023 Devils Backbone Next Level Chili Bowl, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Students, experts react to swatting incident at Radford, Laredo mayor declares migrant state of emergency, VIDEO: Black bear surprises principal at school dumpster, McCarthy touts U.S.-Israeli ties on trip underscored, Why hackers target colleges and universities, Former Delegate enters WV Secretary of State race, Pinpoint Weather: Wintry feel to start off May, GOP uses age as a weapon against Democrats, US tracking balloon spotted off coast of Hawaii, Study: WV has lowest down payment for 1st-time homebuyers, Sheriff: Inmates on the run after escaping from jail, 7 bodies found in search for two missing OK teens, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, 2023 Next-Level Chili Bowl Kickoff Nominations, Events coming up in March with Help Our Youth Excel, Lynchburg man describes life behind bars during the pandemic, Political expert weighs in on questions about Second Amendment sanctuaries, Roanoke Announces the Addition of NCAA Wrestling, Roanoke College Mens Hoops Runs by Emory & Henry for Fifth Straight Win, Roanoke College Upends Emory & Henry 83-59 in ODAC Womens Hoops, Splash Valley CW Superhero Night Sweepstakes, Two dead in head-on car crash in Patrick County, WFXR Virginia Lottery Luxury Cruisin Sweepstakes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Monsieur Sylvain LAVAL qui est la tte d'un conseil municipal compos de 29 lus municipaux saint-martiniers est ag de 38 ans et dont la profession est Personnes diverses sans activit professionnelle de moins de 60 ans (sauf retraits). Virginia Tech football player told police he beat Tinder match to death MATT GENTRY, The Roanoke. Police found Smith in his apartment during a welfare check. "Etute told the police he punched Smith five times in the face and continued punching the victim when they hit the ground and 'stomped' on them," the Times reports. Jerry was a restaurant manager and known as a polite young man throughout his life. Etute pleaded not guilty to the murder charge during his arraignment last week. The city remained a mostly rural area, until the 19th century, when it saw its first industrial . Does American culture promote a healthy work-life balance. The video footage was shared exclusively with us from the property owner of the victims apartment; the owner would like to remain anonymous. The trial will not start for months later. "I don't believe that [the new law] would have been applicable to the facts of this case anyway," he told Virginia Public Media. Smith's family wore shirts with Jerry's face on them. Isimemen Etute stands at his preliminary hearing at Montgomery County Court House, Sept. 24, 2021. Saying identification could pose a risk of retaliatory physical and mental harm to the witness.. or anything. Apartment in Saint-grve, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France. The second motion relates to the gay panic defense statutes that were passed by the General Assembly and went into effect in July 2021. Compounding matters for the defense is that Virginia became the 12th state to implement a ban on the Gay Panic defense in April. 804.320.1301. Fans wo. Etutes defense team filed two motions on Thursday. Virginias No. He later beat Smith to death. ", Turk responded by telling the court, "I'm not saying what happened was acceptable, but this was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone.". UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: Virginia Tech has issued a statement on the arrest of Isimemen Etute, a linebacker with the Virginia Tech Hokies, who has been charged with second degree murder. Advocate on your favorite social platforms!Facebook The trial took place over three days in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va. Smith, 40, had had a sexual encounter with Etute in Smith's apartment in Blacksburg, Va. Copyright 20062023 Sahara Reporters, Inc. All rights reserved. 19, 2022 at 11:11 AM PDT BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The suspect in a 2021 killing in Blacksburg has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. On the night of April 10, Etute went to Smiths apartment which was very dimly lit and engaged in an act of sexual nature. The jury will consider a second-degree murder charge against Isimemen Etute, a former. Published: May. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Born May 18, 1981 in Montgomery County, VA, he was the son of the late Jerry Wayne Smith and Sandra Cumbee Smith. This bill goes into effect July 1. Jerry Paul Smith is listed as an Agent with Vivid Affairs LLC in Virginia. To their family and co-workers, Angie was known as 40-year-old restaurant manager Jerry Paul Smith. Tharp said there was no evidence that Smith fought back. The first asks that one of the witnesses is allowed to remain anonymous. Referral to a campus cleric may be made through this office. The following days, Etute cut off all communication with Smith, suspicious if Angie really was a woman. The autopsy report has revealed blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of Smith's death. His teeth had also been knocked out. Jerry Paul Smith, 40 known as Gigi by his nephews of Blacksburg, VA departed this life, June 1, 2021, at his home. Chance of rain 60%.. Cloudy with occasional rain showers. The contact is Jerry Paul Smith from Blacksburg VA. Danica Roem (D Prince William). Witnesses have been identified and interviewed, and are cooperating with the investigation, police say. Sick Of Divisive Attacks On Schools? La commune de Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux est une commune rhnalpine de taille moyenne habite par 5778 rsidents Saint-Martiniers. The 18-year-old is charged with second-degree murder. The rally is a long-standing tradition at Virginia Tech and at universities across the country that dates back to over 30 years ago, Chamarri Conner is a Kansas City Chief. ", Be sure to follow Jerry Paul Smith, 40 known as Gigi by his nephews of Blacksburg, VA departed this life, June 1, 2021, at his home. The commonwealth and defense attorneys are now working to agree on the number of witnesses the defense can bring to the trial. Their body was discovered the next day. Etute wiped the blood off the bottom of his shoes before meeting his two friends who were waiting outside Smiths apartment for Etute. But Virginia's law didn't go into effect until July 1 of last year, so Judge Mike Fleenor did not advise the jury about it -- granting a request from the defense team. Link between Virginia Tech football player suspect and restaurant Would PRIDE Act Help? He then allegedly admitted to detectives that he punched Smith five times, possibly kicked his victim in the face and ran out to sounds of "bubbling and gurgling," according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. When confronted by police, Etute was compliant and even said he knew what they wanted to talk about. The prosecution contends statutes apply at the time of trial not the date of the alleged criminal offense. The two had been communicating via Tinder direct messages, Smith presenting himself as Angie Renee'' on his profile. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. In a June 9 hearing, prosecutors said Etute, who was at the time a linebacker on the colleges football team, told police he punched Smith several times in the face after learning they were not anatomically female. Jury trial scheduled in Tinder-related Blacksburg murder involving Dr. Amy Marie Tharp, of the Roanoke Medical Examiners office, testified Smith died of blunt force trauma, that nearly all of their facial bones were broken and that they had bleeding and swelling of the brain. We'd love to hear eyewitness 5 Beds 1 Baths 1765 sqft. The preliminary hearing in Etutes case isnt happening until September 23. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Without a declaration from the deceased regarding their pronouns, name or gender identity, VPM News will refer to the victim as Smith or they/them. All rights reserved. Isimemen Etute found not guilty of second-degree murder - WFXRtv 5 Beds 1 Baths 1765 sqft. Before Roems bill, judges had to tell juries in the Commonwealth that this argument was a recognized defense. Judge Mike Fleenor has yet to rule on the defenses motion but said he would do so before jury deliberations. 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.. Ismemen David Etute, who appeared in Montgomery County District Court in Virginia on . BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The suspect in a 2021 killing in Blacksburg has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Isimemen Etute, 19, stands accused of the 2021 murder of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, who Etute met under the name Angie." Luxury Duplex Apartments for Sale in Saint grve, Auvergne Rhne Alpes, France. A suspended Virginia Tech football player accused of killing a gay man has said he became enraged after discovering the person he had met for a sexual encounter was male. Drugs that is degrading to another person. The Kansas City Chiefs began Day Three of the 2023 NFL Draft with pick No. An exam indicated every bone in Smiths face was broken, and he had missing and broken teeth. BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) Police in Blacksburg have charged a man with murder in connection with a Tuesday night homicide. After Smith fell, Etute told police he stomped on their face and body.