BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — The prosecution and defense rested their cases in the Michael Juan Smith trial on Thursday, but not before Smith took the stand in his own defense.
Smith is on trial for his involvement in a 2018 riot at Lee Correctional Institution that resulted in 7 inmate deaths.
At the time of the riot, Smith was in prison for attempted murder and weapons convictions for a Five Points shooting that paralyzed a former USC student. Smith's sentence for that case was overturned in July 2020, but he's awaiting a new trial.
Thursday was all about Michael Juan Smith's testimony. He took the stand in his own defense, explaining his perspective of April 15, 2018.
Smith started his testimony by explaining the life decisions that landed him in prison. The defense asked him his perception of those choices now.
"I made some bad mistakes and decisions and I wish I could take it back," Smith said tearfully on the stand.
Following his testimony about bad choices, the defense asked about the night of April 15, 2018, the night of the riot and stabbing death of inmate Cornelius McClary. He testified he received photos of his friends in other dorms who were dead. He said the images were sent to him as a threat.
"This is my first time telling my story. I seen friends and I seen their throats were sliced," Smith said.
Smith testified when a riot broke out in his unit, inmate Cornelius McClary attacked his friend, and he attempted to intervene.
"I tried to stop it, you know, he sliced his neck and said I was next," Smith said.
The prosecution asked Smith about being seen on the prison cameras carrying a weapon the night of the riot.
"We agree you were armed with a knife, correct?" the prosecutor asked.
"Yeah, later on that night," he said.
"What time? The time the stabbing took place?" the state asked.
"I don't know the exact time, but I'm a man, I don't carry weapons and stuff like that. It's just that my life was in danger," Smith said.
The prosecution showed surveillance video of McClary as they said he was walking away from Smith and was not posing a threat.
"That's you, correct? Is he coming towards you or is he going away from you?" the prosecutor asked.
"It looks like he's going towards my room," Smith said.
"So you're protecting your room now?" the state responded.
"No, my whole state of mind was self-defense," Smith said.
Closing arguments will take place on Friday. Then, the jury will have to decide if Michael Juan Smith is guilty of conspiracy, possession of a weapon in prison, and assault and battery that resulted in death by mob.