That means hes been found not guilty.. Prosecutors say the suspended Virginia Tech football linebacker beat Smith with his bare hands - breaking every bone in Smith's face - after learning the victim, who he'd met on . Reaction continued to spread to the murder charge against former Hokie linebacker Isi Etute and to his attorney's saying that the victim was wrong to pose online as a woman. Etute was later released on bond while placed on house arrest. He further says it has only helped him become much smarter, wiser, and stronger, with a new outlook on life in his journey moving forward.. Jerry Paul Smith was allegedly beaten to death by Isimemen Etute. Etute, 18, will now be under house arrest and electronic monitoring at his parent's house in Virginia Beach, according to prosecutors. Please subscribe to keep reading. I never tricked a man and never will its just wrong and disrespectful TO YOURSELF ASWELL !! env: 'prod', 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. The Commonwealth initially appealed the judges ruling, but Etute was granted bond later on Wednesday. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.. Isimemen Etute was later charged for the incident. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. And trying to see what he can do to get re-enrolled in a university and hopefully being able to pursue his college football, which he loves so much.. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He argued that after Etute punched Smith and Smith fell to the floor, there was "no way" Smith could have reached a weapon under his mattress. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW 6:57 Regular season highlights . 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. 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. INFORMATION Isi Etute. The best insights from the ultimate insiders. A Virginia Tech football player has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Blacksburg resident, according to the Blacksburg Police Department and the university. cnx({ Isimemen Etute, 19, was found. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. - New details came out in court on Wednesday in the case of a suspended Virginia Tech football player accused of murdering a Blacksburg man.. On June 1, Isimemen Etute was . A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. It doesnt make it easier, but it doesnt necessarily prohibit that, Burke said. ABOUT WDBJ is reporting Isimemen Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg, Virginia, who was found dead in his apartment June 1 from blunt force trauma . aid: '724714', Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on $75,000 secured bond per Judge Randal Duncans ruling and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said in a release. Etute testified that if he determined Smith was a woman, another sexual encounter might have occurred, but that if he determined Smith was a man, he planned to flee the apartment. He previously spent time with Angie and engaged in oral sex with them on April 10. Etute failed to notify authorities that he'd left Smith injured, bubbling and gurgling, in the apartment. At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. Your email address will not be published. SistersInc. The young man met Smith under the name Angie while on the Tinder dating app. This is me Follow. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', 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. Virginia Tech Signing Day capsule 2021: Isi Etute. Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. Etute, according to court arguments, reportedly told police he had punched Smith five times in the face and stomped on him after discovering the person he thought was a woman was a man. If that is true, that is very different from being surprised during the act and lashing out. Family handout Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported.. The suspended Virginia Tech football player is scheduled to stand trial in May. He had just signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech in January. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Isimemen David Etute, a freshman who was recruited to play linebacker at Virginia Tech, was hit with second-degree murder charges in the death of Jerry Paul Smith in May. And you let people CHOOSE to love it or not.. Quite frankly, I dont think it was applicable anyway, under the facts of the case, Turk told Oxygen.com. He has been suspended from the team, according to a statement from the university, which has authority to suspend any student charged in a felony arrest. Stand Out. Someone is waiting for you. But the college freshman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder for. - For people to unapologetically and fearlessly walk in their purpose. subcat: '', One of the next steps they mentioned will be figuring out the best avenue for him to pursue a collegiate degree and resume his football career. Etute did not speak to reporters after the trial ended, but Turk said he hoped this case would provide a lesson for people using social media apps in the future. 6'3" 185 lbs Sophomore. The jury began deliberations after closing arguments ended shortly before 3 p.m. Etute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates. The charges are a footnote to mistaken-gender killing, of which Isimemen David Etute was acquitted. Blacksburg Police have announced the arrest of a Virginia Tech student in connection to the death of a Blacksburg resident early Wednesday morning. 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. 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. 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. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', 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. Former player. 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. 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. The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. Plays Football. Police ruled Smiths death a homicide, but did not say how he was killed. Im certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did, defense attorney Jimmy Turk told Oxygen.com. 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. All of the bones in his face were broken and his teeth were also missing, the Roanoke Times reported. He has been required to remain at his parents house in Virginia Beach and is not allowed to leave the state. ]); 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. 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 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. Certainly hope not, Turk said, when asked if he thinks the federal government would pursue filing charges. The sexual encounter reportedly occurred on April 10, 2021, in Smith's apartment. Sept. 23, 2021 Etute appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. A medical examiner ruled Smiths cause of death as a blunt force to the head. kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', 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. He has since been suspended from the Virginia Tech football squad, the university said in a Wednesday statement. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. About After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. Under an agreement, Etute was allowed out on bond,. aid: '724714', According to the report, Etute arrived at the same apartment on May 31st for another potential encounter. Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, Turk said. The Roanoke Times have made multiple attempts to contact both parties. I started when I was 16 and I haven't looked back. 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', The Roanoke Times reports a jury acquitted Isimemen Etute on a second-degree murder charge for the death of 40-year-old Jerry Paul Smith.The jury reportedly deliberated for about three hours following the trial that lasted . 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. Hampton and Smith then both made contact with Etute, with Smith encouraging Etute to "put in a good word" with his teammate. Isimemen Etute celebrates in Montgomery County Circuit Court Friday, May 27, 2022 in Christiansburg Va. Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool, Illinois woman's remains found over 5 years after she disappeared. Isimemen Etute also took the stand in the three-day trial, where he shared he felt violated and argued that the act was in self-defense. Registry of Corporate Directors. June 10, 2021, 11:45 a.m.: This article has been updated to note that homicide victim Jerry Paul Smith's family declined to comment after the bond hearing. 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. Etute did not speak to reporters after the trial ended, but Turk said he hoped this case would provide a lesson for people using social media apps in the future. Based on court records search, over the last nine years there have been at least three other second-degree murder cases in Montgomery County Court, and one of the defendants, Taylor Stevers, was granted bail as well. ]); Isimemen Etute, 18, Jerry Paul Smith, 40, (pictured right) Etute had previously been to Smith's residence on April 10 for oral sex under the impression that he was going to meet someone named Angie, attorneys for both the defense and prosecution told Judge Randal Duncan, according to the Roanoke Times. 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 affiliate WSET, and Smith is not listed on the Human Rights Campaign's compendium of transgender and non-conforming people killed in 2021 .) UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: The Virginia Tech football player facing a second-degree murder charge, Isimemen Etute, will be allowed out on bond under a new agreement. 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 has been charged with second-degree murder. All Rights Reserved. Etute told the police he punched the victim five times in the face and continued punching the victim when the person hit the ground and stomped on him. } Gay panic refers to claiming, in court, that the reaction to finding out someone elses sexual orientation or gender identity justifies violent acts. The closest Etute came to referencing the charges hes facing is when Turk asked him, how has this affected you? 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