At one point during Wednesdays bond hearing, Turk reportedly asked Etute clad in an orange prison jumpsuit how he had been impacted by the charges. Etute was a three-star linebacker recruit from Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach and signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech the next month. A social media user expressed gratitude to the judge for giving Etute a second chance. Another wrote, Truth is. Today, Isimemen David Etute was indicted by a grand jury on one count of Second-Degree murder. Cobb said he closely followed the proceedings after he read about the incident last year when it happened. Circuit Judge Mike Fleenor didnt preclude the gay panic defense that was the subject of a law passed by the General Assembly last year on a procedural basis. Etute then returned to the apartment on May 31 for another meet-up, at which point he discovered the person he had matched up with this time was male, according to Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Morgan, citing details the now-suspended linebacker told cops. The suspended Hokie football player is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. In 2021, 18-year-old Isimemen Etute thought he met a 21-year-old woman named Angie Renee, posing as an emergency room physician, according toThe Roanoake Times. Im truly sorry for my actions.. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', That means hes been found not guilty.. Yes. The last request came in December 2021. The Smith family quickly left the courthouse on Friday, and Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Patrick Jensen declined comment. Details were also revealed that Jerry Smith harbored a weapon hidden between his mattress and box spring. ]); Obviously, the jury did as well.. Turk was aware of the federal investigation early on. Quite frankly, I dont think it was applicable anyway, under the facts of the case, Turk told Oxygen.com. Its sad All the way around. Another match, according to court arguments, was to take place May 31 at an apartment for additional sexual activity. Isimemen Etute, his legal team, and his family were relieved when the not guilty verdict was revealed, which sent everyone into a happy emotional state. In the case of a felony arrest, the university has the authority to place a student on immediate interim suspension, Virginia Tech said in the statement. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', The best insights from the ultimate insiders. The then 18-year-old was accused of fatally beating Smith, an openly gay man who had posed as a woman on the dating app Tinder to initiate a sexual encounter. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty of all charges Friday in the beating death of a Blacksburg resident following an online catfishing scheme. She was eventually acquitted in 2018 on charges of voluntary manslaughter. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Etute began to punch Smith repeatedly and stomped on him, Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said, as noted by WSLS. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He referred questions to his boss, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. 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. Etute confessed to then punching and kicking Smith, breaking every bone in the victims face, knocking out teeth and causing cranial fractures. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters outside the courtroom. Gay panic refers to claiming, in court, that the reaction to finding out someone elses sexual orientation or gender identity justifies violent acts. CASEY: Does an election denialist now oversee Roanokes elections? 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. page_type: 'article', Murder charge against suspended Hokie player Etute is elevated. "I'm certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did . Etute was acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder in the killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, said Jimmy Turk to reporters. You can cancel at any time. env: 'prod', 2022 The Associated Press. 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. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' Be proud of who you are. The order prohibits Etute from going back to Montgomery County except for court proceedings or to consult with his attorney. A jury on Friday acquitted a former Virginia Tech football player who had been accused of fatally beating a man he says he initially believed from a Tinder match to be a woman. Sept. 23, 2021 }).render('3811c1c9bba941ecb6c4a456cf0ac0f7'); Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. cat: 'news', The commonwealths attorney wont get another shot at Etute, but Turk doesnt know the state of the federal governments investigation into the incident as a possible hate crime. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Etute said he went to Angies Blacksburg, Virginia apartment, where the pair engaged in oral sex for which his partner also paid Etute $50. There was a problem saving your notification. Isimemen David Etute his hugged by his father David Etute at conclusion of the trail in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Friday, May 27, 2022. Etute attended middle school at TS Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Bech. They would reportedly meet on April 10th, when the 18-year-old male received an act of pleasure from his Tinder date at the latters apartment. You have permission to edit this article. Prosecutors initially filed an expedited appeal that would have kept the 18-year-old from Virginia Beach in jail for up to five more days, but agreed to his release once the two sides settled on . The case stems from a death that happened May 31. Thats just wrong.. There are different standards, and they can determine that this case violates federal law.. He added that Smith had "demanded that it be dark" and had hidden a knife under his mattress "in case there was something awry.". Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. A suspended Virginia Tech football player charged with second-degree murder was granted bond during a hearing Wednesday morning in Montgomery County General District Court in Christiansburg, Va., as reportedly sordid details emerged surrounding the case. He has been required to remain at his parents house in Virginia Beach and is not allowed to leave the state. I hope there will be another university that will see exactly what Ive seen in that young man, which is a young man who is now much smarter than he was before, Turk said. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of second degree murder by a Montgomery County jury on Friday for the beating death of Jerry Smith, 40, according to the Roanoke Times. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. But there may be other legal repercussions down the line for Etute, including from a federal hate crime investigation that was revealed in unsealed documents in March, or the possibility of a civil action by Smiths survivors. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. Stop playing with people. An autopsy report by the medical examiner showed nearly all the bones in Smith's face were broken, he suffered bleeding of the brain, and had teeth fragments missing. Etute has been charged with second-degree murder. A medical examiner ruled Smiths cause of death as a blunt force to the head. Last week, Etutes attorney had filed a motion to use a gay and trans panic defense, a legal strategy that aims to get defendants more lenient sentences by claiming their violent actions were an uncontrollable response to learning a victims sexual orientation or gender identity. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. The Commonwealth exercised its statutory right to appeal that . A judge granted a bond to Etute under a new agreement on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. I dont mind telling you that Im so fond of that young man, he who has been and who he is. Etute said, at that point, he feared Smith was going for a weapon, a notion Etute failed to mention in his initial 2021 interview with police, according to the Times. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times . A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported. Cobb said he was heartbroken that Fridays verdict left him with a similar empty feeling. He was recruited to the school as a three-star linebacker from Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Do I? ", Former Hokie Etute found not guilty of murder, The final 2022 college football Power Rankings, Police: Speed a primary cause in fatal UGA crash, U-M's Weiss on leave amid police investigation, Reports: UF QB commit Rashada wants release, Miami QB Garcia in portal, has 3 eligible seasons, TCU WR Johnston, RB Miller entering NFL draft, Potential top-5 pick Stroud leaving OSU for NFL, Star Trojans WR Addison declares for NFL draft, Colorado QB Shrout leaves Deion, heads to portal, College football's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2023, What Garrett Riley's big move means for Clemson, Dabo and TCU, Ex-Va. Tech player pleads not guilty to murder, Sugar Bowl moved to Dec. 31 to avoid NFL game, Georgia set to extend Kirby Smart's contract. The two engaged in sexual activity with Etute not aware of Smiths sexual identity. Etute apparently told police he matched with a person named Angie on the dating app Tinder on April 10, and met for oral sex. The story received widespread attention when the news first broke of the incident in 2021. "I think the school that ends up taking him is going to get probably a lot wiser and a much smarter and an exceptional athlete.". "I think the school that ends up taking him is going to get probably a lot wiser and a much smarter and an exceptional athlete.". env: 'prod', Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not . Virginia Tech placed Etute on immediate interim suspension and hes been suspended from the football team, the school said in a statement. After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Upon confronting Smith, Etute testified that Smith grabbed at Etute's genitals, causing Etute to strike Smith in the face with the back of his hand. May 27, 2022, 4:39 PM CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty of all charges Friday in the beating death of a Blacksburg resident following an online catfishing scheme. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech football player Isi Etute told police he punched victim after meeting for sexual encounter. But he finally was able to go to trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court recently. According to the Roanoke Times, Fleenor stated it would have been applicable, but this [ruling] is purely procedural.. During testimony Thursday, Etute said he entered Smith's apartment alone -- both teammates waited outside and were not charged with a crime -- and engaged with Smith on a bed. 21-22 Varsity Football. On Wednesday, Etute was charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports. "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', Isimemen Etute was trapped in an online catfishing scheme, where he thought he was having oral sex with a woman named "Angie." He used his phone's flashlight in the no-light apartment and later . "He has a tremendous amount riding on this trial," Jensen had said during his closing argument hours earlier Friday, The Roanoke Times reported. His attorney, Jimmy Turk, told a judge the case was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone.. page_type: 'article', 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. Isimemen Etute released on $75,000 bond; remains suspended from team A Virginia Tech freshman linebacker charged in the beating death of a man who he thought was a woman has been released on bail. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Turk, Etute's lawyer, made arguments that Etute could not be convicted of second-degree murder because there was no malice in his actions and that he should be found not guilty by reason of self-defense, based on his fear that Smith had hidden a weapon. Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on $75,000 secured bond per Judge Randal Duncan's ruling and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said in. Roanoke City Council member Joe Cobb, who identifies as a member of the regions LGBTQ community, hopes one of the steps Etute takes is advocating on behalf of gender and sexual minorities. Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. Ive tried more than 100 murder cases in my lifetime, and normally I dont even ask for bail, Turk told the judge with his voice quivering. According to testimony, Etute first connected with Smith in April 2021 on the dating app Tinder, with Smith posing as a woman going by the name "Angie Renee." 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. Isimemen Etute, 19, stands accused of the 2021 murder of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, who Etute met under the name "Angie." (Smith's family has identified the victim as a gay man, according to ABC. What followed was an incident that left Jerry Smith deceased. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', It had to.. !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); Like seriously just be honest, there are plenty of men who dont mind, another wrote. He talked about the strong relationship he had with his siblings, and said his parents were, the strongest people Ive ever known even through this situation.. Turk said his client went home with his family and friends following the verdict, where theyre decompressing from the trial., Hes certainly been through a lot, having been on trial for an allegation of second-degree murder, said Turk. Listen ! 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