Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
54
DA: Convict killed uncle, stole his credit cards
Photos at link confirm negritude.
Ronnie E. Smith stabbed his 84-year-old uncle 12 times and stole his credit cards, Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson told a jury Monday.
But Hinds County Assistant Public Defender Brenda Jackson told the jury Smith may be guilty of something, but not murder.
"The evidence is that he was using those credit cards before his uncle was killed," Jackson said.
Smith, 50, of Jackson went on trial in Circuit Court for capital murder in the May 13, 2002, stabbing death of Hampton Ellis.
Profiled in the The Clarion-Ledger series "Patchwork Justice&q
uot; last week, Smith waited 19 months to be indicted. He has spent almost three years in jail, half of
that time awaiting DNA testing and analysis.
If convicted, Smith faces life in prison without parole. The death penalty isn't being sought.
The jury returns today to begin hearing testimony in the trial, which is expected to be completed this week.
Peterson told the jury of 10 women and two men on Monday that Ellis last was seen on his porch about 4 p.m. the day he was killed. She said a witness will testify Smith had Ellis' credit cards about 5 p.m.
Peterson said Smith used the credit cards to pay for rooms at the Cabot Lodge, a television at a Wal-Mart and items at an AutoZone parts store.
"He is guilty of the murder of Hampton Ellis and, by stealing his credit cards, he made it capital murder, " Peterson said.
Jackson said defense evidence will show blood and fingerprints found in the victim's h
ouse didn't match Smith.
The victim's DNA was found on two samples, the blood of two unidentified men also was found, and another sample was inconclusive, Jackson said.
Ellis' body was found after a worried relative went by his house and found him face down on the kitchen floor of his Marion Dunbar Street home. The retired woodworker and World War II veteran was nearly deaf and blind, relatives said.
Smith was arrested a week after Ellis was killed.
Smith also spent 21 years in prison for rape and house burglary. He completed his sentence in 2001.
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DA: Convict killed uncle, stole his credit cards
Photos at link confirm negritude.
Ronnie E. Smith stabbed his 84-year-old uncle 12 times and stole his credit cards, Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson told a jury Monday.
But Hinds County Assistant Public Defender Brenda Jackson told the jury Smith may be guilty of something, but not murder.
"The evidence is that he was using those credit cards before his uncle was killed," Jackson said.
Smith, 50, of Jackson went on trial in Circuit Court for capital murder in the May 13, 2002, stabbing death of Hampton Ellis.
Profiled in the The Clarion-Ledger series "Patchwork Justice&q
uot; last week, Smith waited 19 months to be indicted. He has spent almost three years in jail, half of
that time awaiting DNA testing and analysis.
If convicted, Smith faces life in prison without parole. The death penalty isn't being sought.
The jury returns today to begin hearing testimony in the trial, which is expected to be completed this week.
Peterson told the jury of 10 women and two men on Monday that Ellis last was seen on his porch about 4 p.m. the day he was killed. She said a witness will testify Smith had Ellis' credit cards about 5 p.m.
Peterson said Smith used the credit cards to pay for rooms at the Cabot Lodge, a television at a Wal-Mart and items at an AutoZone parts store.
"He is guilty of the murder of Hampton Ellis and, by stealing his credit cards, he made it capital murder, " Peterson said.
Jackson said defense evidence will show blood and fingerprints found in the victim's h
ouse didn't match Smith.
The victim's DNA was found on two samples, the blood of two unidentified men also was found, and another sample was inconclusive, Jackson said.
Ellis' body was found after a worried relative went by his house and found him face down on the kitchen floor of his Marion Dunbar Street home. The retired woodworker and World War II veteran was nearly deaf and blind, relatives said.
Smith was arrested a week after Ellis was killed.
Smith also spent 21 years in prison for rape and house burglary. He completed his sentence in 2001.
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