Posted on 04/24/2014 11:07:12 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — A Minnesota man who killed two teenagers who broke into his home can be heard on an audio recording talking to himself for hours after the shooting and at one point, apparently describing the slain teens as "vermin."
Byron Smith, of Little Falls, faces first-degree premeditated murder charges in the deaths of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and 17-year-old Nick Brady on Thanksgiving Day in 2012. Smith, 65, claimed he was defending himself and feared for his life after several break-ins at his home.
Prosecutors, though, say Smith planned the killings. They say he sat in a chair in his basement and waited for the teens to enter his home, instead of calling police.
Smith waited a full day after he shot them before asking a neighbor to call the authorities....
The killings stunned this central Minnesota community and stirred debate about how far people can go to defend their homes. Under Minnesota law, a person may use deadly force to prevent a felony from taking place in one's home or dwelling, but authorities have said Smith crossed a line when he continued to shoot the teens after they were no longer a threat.
Authorities who searched Smith's home after the killings testified Wednesday that they found an audio recorder that was turned on and an operating video surveillance system. The recorder was sitting on top of books on a bookshelf, near a chair where prosecutors say Smith waited for the teens....
Prosecutors also showed images from surveillance cameras that Smith had set up outside his home. The four different camera angles showed Smith leaving his home in his truck at 11:25 a.m. on the day of the killings, then returning on foot at 11:45.
At 12:33 p.m., Brady shows up in a hooded, camouflage jacket ...
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
” international military law even while in active combat on the battlefield.”
So are hollow points. Comparing LOAC to civilian law is not appropriate.
Spell’n police,,, You’re a pest,, get lost.
Deputy told Byron Smith to call police ‘right away’ after earlier burglary
No one put a gun on those “TEEN AGER’S” head, and told them to rob that man. I really don’t care what happens to them, when they invaded the man’s property. Where they there to invite the man to a party? NOPE. Maybe they were there to fix him a dinner? NOPE. They were there to rob him, and if he didn’t have the gun, they would have robbed him and possibly killed him Let’s not waste any more “CROCODILE TEARS” for these thieves. They got what they deserved. The mistake this man made was announcing it. He should have wrapped them up with plastic(so that they wouldn’t bleed on his carpet or floor, drove to a secluded area, and dumped them, and most important, KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT.
Let me guess:
When you are read the story of Hansel and Gretel you pull for the witch.
Defense rests in Byron Smith murder trial
http://www.startribune.com/local/257001051.html
The defense rested Monday morning in the Byron Smith first-degree premeditated murder trial, as Smith waived his right to testify just before the morning break.
Cross examining him on his police statements would have been a field day for the prosecution.
I see his lawyer is already calling for a mistrial.
I think he sees the writing on the wall.
Before the shootings, Smith can be heard saying, “I realize I don’t have an appointment, but I would like to see one of the lawyers here.”
The neighbor who called the police testified that Smith asked him to recommend a lawyer.
He planned this out from start to finish.
Yeh — the fact that he sought a lawyer before calling 911 should speak volumes to the jury.
And from the tapes it’s clear that he shot them out of anger — not fear
To have his own personal snuff tape —
“...Maybe I’m a LEO, but I ain’t a lion....”
Deep Purple, Machine Head... great album...
Byron Smith murder trial sent to jury
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (KMSP) -
The Byron Smith murder trial in Little Falls, Minn. is now in the hands of the jury.
DEFENSE: VICTIMS MADE BAD CHOICES
In closing arguments, defense attorney Steve Meshbesher said this case is not murder, but a man defending his home.
The defense team argued teenage burglars Haile Kifer and Nick Brady – not Byron Smith — made the bad choices on Thanksgiving Day 2012.
THE CASE FOR A CONVICTION
“It’s a simple case. He set the plan in motion,” prosecutor Pete Orput said, making the case for premeditated first-degree murder.
Why didn’t Byron Smith call 911, as a Morrison County deputy instructed? Why didn’t he scream out a warning to the intruders? Why he didn’t confront Nick Brady and Haile Kifer with his loaded rifle? All questions the prosecutor posed to the jury during closing arguments.
He ended with a final playback of the audio recording of the deadly shootings, telling the jury to “do the right thing.”
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25379020/byron-smith-trial-what-they-said-in-closing-statements
“. Smith then waited in silence for 12 minutes, until Brady began to descend into the basement. Smith shot Brady twice on the stairs, and once in the head after he fell to the bottom of the stairs. Smith then made taunting remarks to Brady’s body, wrapped it in a tarp and dragged him into another room. He went upstairs, and 10–15 minutes later, he ran back down into the basement, reloaded his weapon and took up his previous position in the obscured chair. Minutes later, Kifer entered the home and could be heard calling her cousin’s name. As she made her way down the stairs, Smith shot her. Wounded, she fell down the stairs, and Smith can be heard on the recording saying “Oh, sorry about that” after his gun jams, followed by Kifer saying “Oh, my God” very quickly; Smith shoots her again, multiple times in the torso, in the midst of which she screams “Oh, my god!” and once next to her left eye with a High Standard Double Nine Convertible .22-caliber single-action revolver.[10] He repeatedly called her derogatory names and then dragged her into the other room, tossing her body on top of her cousin’s, and shot her one final time under the chin, killing her”
He went way too far, this guy is sick. I’m all for defending one’s life and home, with deadly force if necessary, but this guy is a psycho who belongs in prison.
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