Isimemen Etute, 19, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2021 fatal beating of
Prosecutors have told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered that Smith was a man.
On the witness stand Thursday, Etute testified that he had two sexual encounters with a person who used the name “Angie Renee,"
“I felt violated,” Etute said. “I was just in shock, in disbelief that someone tricked me and lied to me.”
Etute also said Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun.
“They swung at me and immediately went to reach,” Etute said, demonstrating the move for the jury. “I thought he was reaching for a gun. That’s just what I know.”
Smith did not own a gun, but police found a knife between his mattress and box spring
Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to give him time to escape the apartment.
The prosecution rested its case Thursday after playing a videotaped police interrogation of Etute for the jury.
During the interrogation, Etute said that after an initial encounter with Smith in April, he decided to return to Smith’s apartment on
Etute denied going there with the intent of harming Smith. He said his only intent was to determine whether Smith was a man or a woman.
The prosecution quickly objected.
Judge
“If we knew those facts, yes we would have consulted the commonwealth’s (attorney’s) office,” Hite said.
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