Last week, Etutes attorney had filed a motion to use a gay and trans panic defense, a legal strategy that aims to get defendants more lenient sentences by claiming their violent actions were an uncontrollable response to learning a victims sexual orientation or gender identity. Subscribe On Youtube. Im truly sorry for my actions.. Duncans decision isnt without precedent. Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. The Virginia Beach native, who was out on bond while awaiting trial, was facing a second-degree murder charge that carried a prison sentence of from five to 40 years upon conviction. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. Im certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did, defense attorney Jimmy Turk told Oxygen.com. While that scenario might prove unlikely, Turk is hopeful there are colleges out there that will give Etute a chance. The college student had no prior criminal history. There was a problem saving your notification. Along with teammate Da'Shawn Elder, Etute went to Smith's Blacksburg apartment on April 10 under the assumption that he was meeting a woman. Its sad All the way around. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, said Jimmy Turk to reporters. Isi is extremely grateful for the jurys hard work, deliberation, and verdict., Isi is now focused on picking up where he left off in his pursuit of a college degree and love for the game of football. Those who followed the story celebrated Isimemen Etutes freedom on social media, with many agreeing that Smith should not have been catfishing. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', This wasn't a first-time meeting. In the case of a felony arrest, the university has the authority to place a student on immediate interim suspension, the university added. 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. UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: The Virginia Tech football player facing a second-degree murder charge, Isimemen Etute, will be allowed out on bond under a new agreement. Elder testified that he was disturbed by the circumstances of the meeting, in which Smith hid his face and kept his apartment nearly pitch dark. You can cancel at any time. The verdict elicited a mix of reactions from those in the courtrooms gallery, including Etute's father, who collapsed near his sobbing wife. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "He's going to get his life back, and I'm hopeful," said Jimmy Turk to reporters. What followed was a host of sad events. In taking the stand earlier in the week, Etute had testified that he felt "violated" when he discovered that the Tinder match he believed to be a woman was actually a man. 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. More info: Cox High School - Boys Varsity Football / OLB, WR / Class of 2021 / Virginia Beach, VA Eighteen-year-old Isimemen Etute was a 2021 recruit on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. WDBJ is reporting Isimemen Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg, Virginia, who was found dead in his apartment June 1 from blunt force trauma . The Etute . Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. Etute and his parents headed home for Virginia Beach on Saturday morning to take a deep breath.. In 2021, 18-year-old Isimemen Etute thought he met a 21-year-old woman named Angie Renee, posing as an emergency room physician, according toThe Roanoake Times. Please subscribe to keep reading. According to the report, Etute arrived at the same apartment on May 31st for another potential encounter. "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters outside the courtroom. 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. Turk, Etute's lawyer, made arguments that Etute could not be convicted of second-degree murder because there was no malice in his actions and that he should be found not guilty by reason of self-defense, based on his fear that Smith had hidden a weapon. That is willing to work a lot harder than he did before and hopefully hell have the opportunity to get back what his dream has always been.. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS All Rights Reserved. Etute left the apartment without calling police, according to court arguments, and Smith was found unresponsive two days later during a welfare check in the apartment located in the 100 block of North Main Street in Blacksburg. Do I? Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported. Etute, who is charged in the death of 40-year-old Jerry Smith, was set to be released to live with his family. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of second degree murder by a Montgomery County jury on Friday for the beating death of Jerry Smith, 40, according to the Roanoke Times. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters. Etute did testify one of his reasons for returning to Smiths apartment was that his close friends had been making jokes that the Angie Renee he had a sexual encounter with on April 10, could have been a dude.. Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on $75,000 secured bond per Judge Randal Duncan's ruling and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said in. In a strange sort of way, it kind of gives people who think its OK to beat up gay people, it kind of gives them permission to do that, Cobb said, in a pained voice. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Women of Power Summit cat: 'news', Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS At Etutes bond hearing in 2021, Turk expressed that while nobody deserves to die, nobody should lead someone into believing that they are something they are not. Turk also emotionally pleaded for Etute to be released on bail. But thankfully, a not guilty verdict was delivered in Etutes case, making him now a free man. aid: '724714', About He referenced a 2002 case Jawad v. Commonwealth, and a local case involving Mark Ward Faville from 2015. 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. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Burke, who was familiar with the Etute case through media coverage, said in many cases the federal government will take a wait and see approach when a defendant is facing charges at the state level. According to the autopsy, all the bones in Blacksburg resident Jerry Paul Smiths face were broken, his teeth were missing and he had multiple cranial fractures. Tim Sullivan HokieHaven "I think the school that ends up taking him is going to get probably a lot wiser and a much smarter and an exceptional athlete.". divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. The then 18-year-old was accused of fatally beating Smith, an openly gay man who had posed as a woman on the dating app Tinder to initiate a sexual encounter. cnx({ Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. He, too, went to the apartment expecting a sexual encounter with a woman, but decided to leave after feeling uncomfortable. Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. Etute was later released on bond while placed on house arrest. } During testimony Thursday, Etute said he entered Smith's apartment alone -- both teammates waited outside and were not charged with a crime -- and engaged with Smith on a bed. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who is Mohammed Nuru? CASEY: Does an election denialist now oversee Roanokes elections? On Wednesday, Etute was charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. page_type: 'article', The jury deliberated for approximately . Upon the prodding of friends who suspected Angie was a man, Etute returned to the apartment on May 31, 2021. Turk said his client went home with his family and friends following the verdict, where theyre decompressing from the trial., Hes certainly been through a lot, having been on trial for an allegation of second-degree murder, said Turk. The linebackers parents and sister attended Wednesdays hearing, as well as a dozen Virginia Tech football players, most of whom were wearing team gear, according to the report. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute and his parents, Nichelle and David, issued a statement to The Roanoke Times on Saturday through his defense attorney Jimmy Turk. After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. She was eventually acquitted in 2018 on charges of voluntary manslaughter. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', At the time, Etute was a freshman at Virginia Tech, where he also played football as their linebacker. The questions Turk had for Isi Etute were of a similar nature. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute describes an altercation during his murder trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Thursday, May 26 2022. The suspect in the killing faces a prelimary hearing in Montgomery County September 23. 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. He had just signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech in January. According to testimony, Etute first connected with Smith in April 2021 on the dating app Tinder, with Smith posing as a woman going by the name "Angie Renee." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Turk also said Smith was "controlling the entire environment and the entire episode." CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty of all charges Friday in the beating death of a Blacksburg resident following an online catfishing scheme. Isimemen Etute is 18 years old. Etute testified that he stomped on Smith's face as he departed the apartment, leaving a bloody shoe print on Smith's cheek in the process. 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