Columbia, SC (WLTX) - In day four of the Michael Smith attempted murder trial, the jury heard from eight witness, including doctors, ballistics and gun residue experts, investigators, and a witness who talked to Smith in jail.
Smith is accused of shooting USC student Martha Childress and paralyzing her for life back in October 2013 in Columbia's Five Points. At the the time of the incident, Childress was waiting on a cab.
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Prosecutors say Smith was involved in a dispute with another man, and in attempting to shoot that person, wound up hitting Childress with gunfire.
Trauma surgeon Dr. Robert Smith testified to the extent of Childress' injuries and how her life has been changed since that night. He said, "The bullet was literally in the spinal canal about the 10th and the 11th vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae. It was very clear on the image that her spinal cord had been transected by the bullet and this of course produced the neurologic findings. She was unable to move her lower extremities and she has no sensation below her belly button."
While being cross-examined by defense attorney Aimee Zmroczek, Dr. Smith also said the bullet lodged in Martha's spine is a hollow point, the same kind found in the magazine taken from Smith's Gun.
Also taking the stand was Rueben Levy, a man prosecutors say Smith confided to in jail. Levy says Smith told him what happened that night and that he was the shooter, and showed no remorse. "Mr. Smith made a very derogatory comment regarding Miss Childress and the media attention she was receiving," Levy explained. "[Smith said] the news is acting like [used a slur and a profanity to describe Childress] got killed. Like the [slur/derogatory term] got killed. That just kinda struck me as very disheartening. In my opinion it showed a very deliberate lack of remorse."
Donnell Woodard, one of the men seen in the surveillance video from that night having words with Smith, also testified. When asked how he felt when he got shot at that night, Woodard said, "I mean like kinda nervous because it was behind me but at the same time upset because I'm trying to figure out who's shooting. But I mean I really don't know what's going on."
Ballistics expert Lt. Tracey Thrower stated that the bullet casing found at the scene had been fired from the Glock 27 that was taken from Smith the night in question. Lt. Jennifer Nates, a gun residue expert with the State Law Enforcement Division, testified that the gun residue found on Smith's hands was found on his palms, which is consistent with someone who had fired a weapon.
Investigator Emmitt Gilliam is in the process of being cross-examined. That testimony will resume Friday morning at 9 a.m.
