The story received widespread attention when the news first broke of the incident in 2021. Gay panic refers to claiming, in court, that the reaction to finding out someone elses sexual orientation or gender identity justifies violent acts. 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. Instead, the jury believed a self-defense argument that Etute feared for his life after seeing the victim "make a reach" toward his bed where a knife was later found. A judge gave Etute a $75,000 secured bond due to him meeting all the requirements to prove hes neither a flight risk nor a danger to society. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! tude.cmd.push(function() { Real hard, Etute said. 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. Ill be fully supportive of him. Those who followed the story celebrated Isimemen Etutes freedom on social media, with many agreeing that Smith should not have been catfishing. A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Etutes attorney, Jimmy Turk, told reporters, according to The Richmond Times Dispatch. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty Friday in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith foll. 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. Blacksburg police caught the 18-year old linebacker and suspended him from the college and group. If theres ever been a time for someone to be considered for bail, this is it.. 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. He was suspended from the squad last week. 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. May 31, 2022. Virginia Tech Signing Day capsule 2021: Isi Etute. 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 testified that he left the April 10 encounter still believing Smith was a woman, but teammates later began teasing him that his sexual partner could have been a man. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Like seriously just be honest, there are plenty of men who dont mind, another wrote. Etute confessed to then punching and kicking Smith, breaking every bone in the victims face, knocking out teeth and causing cranial fractures. 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 . tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', Turk ended his arguments in tears, calling Etute "one of the finest young men I've ever had the experience of meeting" and noting that the entire situation came about only because of Smith's "deliberate, wicked sexual ruse.". The prosecuting attorney, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Patrick Jensen, declined comment and referred questions to his boss, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt. Real hard, Etute said. The last request came in December 2021. 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. 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. targeting: { But, a true NYC native. ]); I dont mind telling you that Im so fond of that young man, he who has been and who he is. TheNew York Postoffered an account given by Isimemen Etute to authorities through Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Morgan. Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. Graduated in 2021. Former Virginia Tech linebacker Isimemen Etute will get a chance to play football this season following his acquittal on a second-degree murde. Virginia Tech placed Etute on immediate interim suspension and hes been suspended from the football team, the school said in a statement. Etute said he became suspicious on May 31 when friends of his, including. tude.cmd.push(function() { Charges - Arrested A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters. During a police search of the apartment, a knife was found between Smith's mattress and box spring, but Etute testified he never saw the knife, and he did not mention any concerns for his own safety during his initial police interview on June 2, 2021. Etute testified that he left the April 10 encounter still believing Smith was a woman, but teammates later began teasing him that his sexual partner could have been a man. 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, 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. He heard bubbling and gurgling as he left the apartment, but didnt call the police. Fleenor would have read an instruction to the jury precluding the defense had the law been in place on May 31 when the crime was committed, but the instruction wouldnt have mentioned gender identity or sexual orientation as agreed to by the prosecution. The college student had no prior criminal history. Under the agreement, Etute was allowed to be at his parent's house under house arrest and electronic monitoring. Please subscribe to keep reading. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported. 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. Etute was 18 years old at the time. Etute, 18, will now be under house arrest and electronic monitoring at his parent's house in Virginia Beach, according to prosecutors. Entrepreneurs Summit Turk frequently teared up during his 45-minute closing statement and when talking to reporters about Etutes high character. Masthead. The suspended Hokie football player is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. But what I'm telling you is this was not self-defense.. 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. Privacy Policy A Virginia Tech football recruit is in jail facing murder charges for beating his Tinder date to death after learning he was a man and not the woman he met online. Etute returned on May 31 and realized that Smith and Angie were the same person. "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. Virginia Tech football coach Justin Fuente has not spoken publicly about Etutes arrest. 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 . Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Turk cited two cases in Virginia where defendants facing second-degree murder charges were released on bail. 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. Etute attended middle, Rapper Gangsta Boo Laid To Rest, Brother Released From Hospital, 90s R&B Singer Jaguar Wright Taken Into Custody Days After Calling Out Jay-Z, Boosie Badazz Daughter Shows Off Her New Girlfriend, Now The Rapper Is Being Dragged Across Twitter, Malcolm Jamal Warner Reveals He Makes Pennies From Cosby Show Residuals, Cost More To Send Check Out, Jason Lee Drops First Interview On New Show, Reveals He Was Once Smacked By Rihanna. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. 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. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported. The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. 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. Wizards, Warriors trade blows early then champs leave hosts on canvas, For Victor Robles and the Nats, a thorny offseason storyline returns, Capitals rally from three-goal deficit, clip Islanders in OT. pos: 'right_rail_1', Certainly hope not, Turk said, when asked if he thinks the federal government would pursue filing charges. 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. However, this time he would be surprised to discover that Angie Renee was really a 40-year-old man restaurant employee named Jerry Smith. Varsity Football (2021) Varsity Football (2018) Varsity Football . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { I hope its not just about his ability to return to football, which I know is an important thing, but I hope it will include him learning and advocating to the LGBTQ community and deterring these sorts of incidents from ever happening again, Cobb said. Jersey #20 Position OLB, WR Overall Region 7-5 6-4 VA Rank 134. The warrants sought records from Etutes cellphone, a Tinder account associated with that number, and the cellphone records of three other then-Tech football team members. Video via WSLS 10. "I'm certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did . Sept. 23, 2021 Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. All Rights Reserved. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Etute was later released on bond while placed on house arrest. He compared Etute, an "elite college athlete," to Smith, who weighed 153 pounds (just under 70 kilograms). Virginia Tech announced that Isimemen Etute has been suspended from the football team immediately, and the university will aid police as they carry out their investigation into the suspected homicide. There was a problem saving your notification. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. 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