BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — Today was the first day of testimony in the Michael Juan Smith trial.
Smith is on trial for his involvement in a Lee County prison riot in April 2018. That riot left seven people dead and more than a dozen injured. So far five men have plead guilty, a total of 29 men have been charged.
The state presented surveillance footage from the day of the riot and used it to identify the defendant Michael Juan Smith.
“Did you just happen to see someone walk by that you’ve previously identified,” the prosecution asked of the prison captain who was on the stand.
“Yes ma’am,” said prison Captain Annie McCollough.
“Who is that you just observed walking by in the video?” asked the prosecution.
“That one with the jacket on is Mr. Smith,” McCollough said.
McCollough was on duty at the prison during the riot and stayed to help once the riot broke out.
“Can you point to where the defendant is? And what is this a photo of?” asked the prosecution.
A sharp object,” replied McCollough.
In addition to McCollough's testimony, the state brought in John Douglas who runs the camera shop for the Department of Corrections.
During his testimony, he explained where cameras were installed throughout the prison, the defense asked him about potential blind spots.
“Even with all the camera that you have there are still blind spots?” asked the defense.
“Yes,” Douglas replied.
“What’s a blind spot?” the defense continued.
“Where there’s no camera coverage,” Douglas replied.
The third witness the state presented was associate warden Edward Tisdale.
Tinsdale was at the prison the night of the riot working to get inmates medical attention and help rescue corrections officers.
“Inmates are calling me by name and I’m calling some of them by name they’re telling us they’re hurt and they need to get to medical. And I make a decision to allow them to start walking,” Tisdale said.
The trial will resume Wednesday with more testimony.
At the time of the riot, Michael Juan Smith was in prison for attempted murder and weapons convictions for a Five Points shooting that paralyzed former USC student Martha Childress.
Smith’s sentence for that case was overturned in July 2020 but he's awaiting a new trial.