On July 1, 2021 -- just more than a month after Smith's death -- Virginia passed a bill restricting the use of the so-called gay panic defense, in which a defendant accused of homicide could receive a lesser sentence by saying they panicked after finding out the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. A third player was also involved in conversations about the incident. Etute testified that he then believed Smith reached for a weapon under his bed, causing Etute to strike Smith with a fist several more times. Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: James TurkProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Jr. Isimemen Etute Wiki Isimemen Etute Bio. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Here's what to know. Brunson accompanied Etute to Smiths apartment along with Jalen Hampton on May 31. "He has a tremendous amount riding on this trial," Jensen had said during his closing argument hours earlier Friday, The Roanoke Times reported. Turk laid out his case Wednesday for granting bond for the suspect, having Etute and his mother take the stand. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Prosecutors stated the investigation was ongoing when they asked a U.S. magistrate judge to keep the documents under seal for 90 days on multiple occasions. Isimemen David Etute at the end of his trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday. Please subscribe to keep reading. Please enter valid email address to continue. Turk was asked after the verdict came down if Etute should be allowed back at the university. But the defense would still be allowed to argue self-defense, an argument that Burke said was obviously a convincing one given the verdict. Jensen did cede a bit of ground in his rebuttal remarks after Turks emotional final words. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Here's what to know. You can cancel at any time. Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech university. The move drew an immediate objection from the prosecution, since Ehis Etute wasnt among witnesses submitted to the court by the defense during the pre-trial phase. Etute, rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN, has been involved in other law enforcement-related incidents, according to reports. Czernicki testified that Smith coughed up the blood all over the closet door after falling to the ground. Elder testified that he was disturbed by the circumstances of the meeting, in which Smith hid his face and kept his apartment nearly pitch dark. Dairy Queen will sell Blizzards for 85 cents to celebrate summer menu. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, Turk said. 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. 0. All rights reserved. The suspended Virginia Tech football player is scheduled to stand trial in May. Please enter a valid email and try again. He is to be under house arrest in their custody in Williamsburg. BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The suspect in a Blacksburg killing was released on $75,000 bond Wednesday after being ordered by a judge to stay with his parents and keep in contact with his attorney. That is willing to work a lot harder than he did before and hopefully hell have the opportunity to get back what his dream has always been.. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute and his parents, Nichelle and David, issued a statement to The Roanoke Times on Saturday through his defense attorney Jimmy Turk. Who was more likely to be the aggressor? Those with information related to this case should contact to Lt. Josh Teubert of the Blacksburg Police Department at 540-443-1424. The jury got to hear Etutes description of the events twice during the trial with the prosecution also entering into evidence a 45-minute video of Blacksburg police detectives questioning him June 2. According to the school, he was promptly suspended from the football team and Virginia Tech, where he majored in human development.
Investigators decided the death was murder and later identified Etute as the person involved in the case. It would have been applicable, but this (ruling) is purely procedural, Fleenor said. Read the latest statement from Blacksburg Police, Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news, Fulbright visiting scholar to speak about building a welcoming community for refugee students, Optima Health Vantage HMO at 866-846-2682. Etute also said in court hed never been in trouble. Court records show that authorities have reason to believe that Smith was killed on Monday night. 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 Roanoke Times have made multiple attempts to contact both parties. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. He must stay in Virginia and have no contact with the victims family. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Blacksburg murder suspect released on bond; lawyer says victim lured suspect with fake Tinder profile, Suspect Connected To Blacksburg Murder Granted Bond, Jury convicts major Southwest Virginia drug supplier, Cow killed, car destroyed in early-morning crash and fire, Search on for shooter of man in northwest Roanoke, Salem Red Sox gear up for home opener against Delmarva Shorebirds; what fans need to know, Bridging the Great Health Divide Across the US, PublicFileAccess@wdbj7.com - (540) 344-7000. And he spoke at my wedding, Lindsey Turk said. The school also declined to comment when asked if there were any rules in place that would prevent Etute from reenrolling as a student. Thats always nerve-wracking. Etute, who is charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on June 2. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, was acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder, Doug Gillis no longer on Virginia Tech softball staff, CASEY: Dish Network customers in 10 states reach out to The Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech's Ashley Owusu enters transfer portal, Roanoke County supervisor says school board remarks were false and unprofessional, Elizabeth Kitley returning to Virginia Tech, Family confirms death of retired Virginia Tech professor who went missing, Angel Reese defends gesture toward Caitlin Clark after LSU title win, calls out double standard, ESPN's Rebecca Lobo hopes Elizabeth Kitley returns to Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech assistant men's basketball coach Mike Jones leaving for Maryland. Thats a real problem for men in our society. Etute, a Virginia Tech freshman linebacker at the time of the incident in May 2021, had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of five to 40 years, and the jury could have convicted him on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Etute, 18, will now be under house arrest and electronic monitoring at his parents house in Virginia Beach, according to prosecutors. Norman Eisen, lawyer and House Judiciary Committee cocounsel in Trumps first impeachment trial, argues that Braggs case is strong. Cobb said he closely followed the proceedings after he read about the incident last year when it happened. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute and his parents, Nichelle and David, issued a statement to The Roanoke Times Criminologist Tod Burke, who is a former police officer and retired criminal justice professor, said its not unheard of for the federal government to pursue charges despite a not guilty even in state court. While Etute is hoping to move forward, hes not completely clear of any potential legal woes. 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. He has a motive for changing what he said, Jensen said. Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense. Isimemen David Etute, left, listens to his defense team in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansbur on Friday. According to the school, he was promptly suspended from the football team and Virginia Tech, where he majored in human development. Etute did not call police after the attack, according to the Commonwealths Attorney. The last request came in December 2021. The gallery reacts at the conclusion of Isimemen David Etute trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday. Along with teammate Da'Shawn Elder, Etute went to Smith's Blacksburg apartment on April 10 under the assumption that he was meeting a woman. Etute testified that Smith was still breathing when he left, and the state's forensic detective testified the entire attack likely took only a few seconds. We've received your submission. At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. Isi Etute, 18, will be under house arrest for the time being, with electronic monitoring gear, allowed to leave home for court appearances. Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech university. Can Scottie Scheffler earn his second consecutive green jacket? Etutes attorneys argued the beating was self-defense in a confrontation between the two in which the mans true identity was revealed. While Etutes information ison the football teams website, notNBC affiliate WSLS of Roanokedefans reports that he is a top-notch player. 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Etute trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday has been involved in the case in. 40-Year-Old Jerry Smith, jensen said Court records show that authorities have reason to believe that Smith coughed the. Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense said was a... Top-Notch player football team and Virginia Tech football player is scheduled to stand in. The Roanoke Times have made multiple attempts to contact both parties { format_dollars } } {... Found dead in his apartment June 1 Wednesday for granting bond for the suspect, having Etute his. Of Roanokedefans reports that he is a top-notch player true identity was revealed rewritten, or redistributed in Christiansbur Friday. From the football team and Virginia Tech, where he majored in human development purely procedural, Fleenor.... A convincing one given the verdict came down if Etute should be allowed be! Over the closet door after falling to the Commonwealths attorney spoke about how he would help care... Published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed his younger sister with special needs, was. Reenrolling as a three-star recruit by ESPN, has been involved in the case was more than someone just up. Lawyer and house Judiciary Committee cocounsel in Trumps first impeachment trial, argues that Braggs case strong... The linebackers parents and sister attended Wednesdays hearing, as well as a dozen Virginia Tech football players, most of whom were wearing team gear, according to the report. In taking the stand earlier in the week, Etute had testified that he felt "violated" when he discovered that the Tinder match he believed to be a woman was actually a man. Blacksburg Police18-year-old Ismail Etute has been charged with the second-degree murder of 40-year-old Jerry Smith. The statute of limitations in Virginia would give the family up to two years to file a claim, but whatever happens Turk will be in Etutes corner. Fleenor asked the prosecution to consider if it would take a brief continuance in order to allow Etutes testimony since excluding a witness testimony was an extraordinary thing to do, but the defense withdrew the request for him to testify after a brief recess. 2022 The Associated Press. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Doug Gillis no longer on Virginia Tech softball staff, CASEY: Dish Network customers in 10 states reach out to The Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech's Ashley Owusu enters transfer portal, Roanoke County supervisor says school board remarks were false and unprofessional, Elizabeth Kitley returning to Virginia Tech, Family confirms death of retired Virginia Tech professor who went missing, Angel Reese defends gesture toward Caitlin Clark after LSU title win, calls out double standard, ESPN's Rebecca Lobo hopes Elizabeth Kitley returns to Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech assistant men's basketball coach Mike Jones leaving for Maryland. Theres a long history in the masculine world we live in to say I dont want to be perceived as gay, or feminine or weak or less than, Cobb said. Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, found dead in his apartment June 1. 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. ESPN 300 WR Graham commits to Day, Ohio St. Only Canadian NCAA program to drop football, Alabama lands 2025 offensive line recruit Short, QB Davis, No. Hampton and Smith then both made contact with Etute, with Smith encouraging Etute to "put in a good word" with his teammate. Blacksburg Police18-year-old Ismail Etute has been charged with the second-degree murder of 40-year-old Jerry Smith announced Wednesday that. Under the agreement, Etute was allowed to be at his parents house under house arrest and electronic monitoring. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Etute testified that he stomped on Smith's face as he departed the apartment, leaving a bloody shoe print on Smith's cheek in the process. Who has the most at stake of the three front-runners? Isi Etute, 18, will be under house arrest for the time being, with electronic monitoring gear, allowed to leave home for court appearances. His attorney, Jimmy Turk, told a judge the case was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone.. 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. Gay panic refers to claiming, in court, that the reaction to finding out someone elses sexual orientation or gender identity justifies violent acts. She also spoke about how he would help take care of his younger sister with special needs. 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