Smith set to plead self-defense at homicide trial

According to her lawyer, Marty Smith is set to use self-defense as an argument in her upcoming trial related to the death of local man Doug Haar last August. She stands accused of involvement in the suspected homicide and faces several felony charges as an accessory to the alleged crime.

Smith appeared in District Court on Wednesday accompanied by lawyer Steven Titus of Gillette, for a pre-trial hearing. Various points of order related to the trial were discussed and settled between the defendant’s lawyer, Deputy County Attorney Linda Black on behalf of the state and Judge Michael Deegan.

No objections were put forth for the list of witnesses each side intends to call, though Titus did request to remove an item of evidence that the state intends to introduce and explained he intends to object to any testimony regarding the second suspect, Jessie Johnson, as “hearsay”.

Judge Deegan made a tentative motion to remove the requested piece of evidence but, regarding the potential objections, responded that this will need to be resolved at the trial because the basis for an objection would need to be established.

No decision has been made yet as to whether Smith will testify, Titus said.

Smith’s trial has been set for February 19 and will begin at 8 a.m. She was charged with accessory before the fact of murder in the second degree and felony counts of accessory before the fact of voluntary manslaughter, accessory before the fact of involuntary manslaughter and accessory before the fact of aggravated assault and battery.