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Turk expanded on that point outside the courtroom. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', cnx.cmd.push(function() { 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. Former player. 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. page_type: 'article', Etute began to punch Smith repeatedly and stomped on him, Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said, as noted by WSLS. According to the report, Etute arrived at the same apartment on May 31st for another potential encounter. The university told CNN it cannot disclose if Etute has been suspended from the university as the information is a confidential part of the students record. ]); 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. Please answer some questions in this short survey about professional soccer and the 2022 Men's FIFA World Cup. 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." After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. It will take time to decompress and feel relief from this gut-wrenching, frightening experience in life. Etute returned on May 31 and realized that Smith and Angie were the same person. What followed was an incident that left Jerry Smith deceased. 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. The gay panic defense came into effect July 1 and quite frankly, I dont believe that it would have been applicable to the facts of this case anyway because thats not what led to the death, Turk said. 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. } CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty Friday in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith foll. The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported. The freshman enrolled at Virginia Tech at midyear and went through spring camp with the football team. 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. Ismemen David Etute, 18, told cops he went to the Blacksburg apartment of 40-year-old Jerry Smith in April for oral sex after matching up with someone named Angie on Tinder, the Roanoke Times reported. 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. If that is true, that is very different from being surprised during the act and lashing out. In a strange sort of way, it kind of gives people who think its OK to beat up gay people, it kind of gives them permission to do that, Cobb said, in a pained voice. The story received widespread attention when the news first broke of the incident in 2021. May 31, 2022. cnx.cmd.push(function() { Stop playing with people. "I'm certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did . "They can be extremely useful, but they can be extremely dangerous. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Duncan acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, but in granting bail he said there was no evidence that Etute wouldnt appear for the trial or that he posed a danger to the community. Cobb said he was heartbroken that Fridays verdict left him with a similar empty feeling. Etute, a Virginia Tech freshman linebacker charged with second-degree murder, fatally beat his victim after discovering that . Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. But the defense would still be allowed to argue self-defense, an argument that Burke said was obviously a convincing one given the verdict. The college student had no prior criminal history. On May 31, another Virginia Tech player, Jalen Hampton, also connected with "Angie Renee" on Tinder. Etute apparently told police he matched with a person named Angie on the dating app Tinder on April 10, and met for oral sex. Two Virginia Tech football players and family hug after the Isimemen Etute hearing in Christiansburg Wednesday. Burke, who was familiar with the Etute case through media coverage, said in many cases the federal government will take a wait and see approach when a defendant is facing charges at the state level. Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. The suspect in the killing faces a prelimary hearing in Montgomery County September 23. Certainly hope not, Turk said, when asked if he thinks the federal government would pursue filing charges. Etute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates. Stevers was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her estranged husband back in 2017. Etute was arrested June 2 and charged with killing Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker in Blacksburg, Va. All the bones in Smiths face were broken, teeth were missing and he suffered cranial fractures, an autopsy report revealed. The jury deliberated for approximately . 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. Hampton and Smith then both made contact with Etute, with Smith encouraging Etute to "put in a good word" with his teammate. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute describes an altercation during his murder trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Thursday, May 26 2022. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. 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. "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. Etute was charged with second-degree murder and held in at the Montgomery County Jail, police said. Etute and Hampton, along with a third teammate, Jordan Brunson, decided to return to Smith's apartment to determine Smith's gender. Masthead. - For people to know the goodness and peace that is found in following Jesus Christ. His attorney, Jimmy Turk, told a judge the case was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone.. Former Virginia Tech linebacker Isimemen Etute will get a chance to play football this season following his acquittal on a second-degree murde. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. Hes obviously relieved as well.. Registry of Corporate Directors. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' It isnt about reasonable doubt, I like to say they have to prove their case by 50.1%, Burke said. Tim Sullivan HokieHaven Etute had been a rookie linebacker for the Virginia Techs Hokies football when he was arrested for Smiths murder, resulting in his suspension from the team. Teams. It reminded of him of past incidents of discrimination he had witnessed, most notably a beating that left an interracial gay couple hospitalized shortly after he moved to Roanoke in 2001. Hes been acquitted of a crime, Turk said. This is me Follow. Virginia Tech placed Etute on immediate interim suspension and hes been suspended from the football team, the school said in a statement. Etute was acquired Friday evening of second-degree Murder in the Killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. !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); Isimemen Etute, 18, was. Plays Football. All of the bones in his face were broken and his teeth were also missing, the Roanoke Times reported. Smiths family was in attendance. INFORMATION CASEY: Does an election denialist now oversee Roanokes elections? "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. playerId: '31d84b62-a3ea-4274-9349-1b7ccedbd1d7' A former Virginia Tech student and football player can now breathe the most enormous sigh of relief. Thats a real problem for men in our society. 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. Etute was later released on bond while placed on house arrest. Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. Isimemen Etute, a Virginia Tech student now suspended from the university and its football team, is. In April 2021, Etute matched with who he believed was a woman named "Angie" (whose legal name was Jerry Smith) on the dating app Tinder. The two sides later Wednesday came to an agreement to release Etute on a $75,000 secured bond under house arrest and electronic monitoring, according to a release put out by Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. 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. cat: 'news', But thankfully, a not guilty verdict was delivered in Etutes case, making him now a free man. Varsity Football (2021) Varsity Football (2018) Varsity Football . On May 31, another Virginia Tech player, Jalen Hampton, also connected with "Angie Renee" on Tinder. 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. The Commonwealth initially appealed the judges ruling, but Etute was granted bond later on Wednesday. given the abuse/deception of which Etute was the victim. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. The young athlete went to Smiths home on April 10 and received oral sex, according to the t attorney Jimmy Turk. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father "collapsed." Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills children and top officials, U.S. lawyer who died in Mexico was "victim of a brutal crime," family says, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and George Santos get House committee seats, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. B.E. The student arrested is Isimemen Etute of Virginia Beach, Virginia, a freshman majoring in human development. You can cancel at any time. 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. First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. You have permission to edit this article. That investigation became public in March thanks to unsealed search warrants filed in June 2021 by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. ABOUT The judge in Etute's case ruled that the new legislation did not apply to this case, as it was enacted after the incident took place, though Turk argued it likely would not have altered the outcome of the trial. Ismemen David Etute, 18, is charged in the death of Jerry Smith, 40 Smith had posed as a woman named Angie on Tinder and had performed oral sex on Etute when they met in April, Etute's attorney . Former Virginia Tech football player Isememen David Etute has been indicted for murdering a man who was acting as a female on the dating app Tinder. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who is Mohammed Nuru? 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 . If you find this was in the heat of passion, you shouldnt find him guilty of second-degree murder; the crime would be voluntary manslaughter," said Jensen. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Ukraine's interior minister, at least 14 others killed in Kyiv helicopter crash, was acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder, Business cycle: Ex-Burlington Coat Factory location considered by home decor company, Roanoke Wasena Bridge project update: log cabin to be removed, replaced by roundabout, Case of Radford child's many hospital visits ends with Alford plea, Former Blacksburg coach Mickey McGuigan remembered for his 'compassion', Christiansburg Marketplace to add second anchor with Academy Sports + Outdoors, Ford plant halted by Youngkin would have created 2,500 jobs in Southside, Roanoke woman charged in U.S. Capitol riots. 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