It was determined the Gilbert, mother of two acted in self-defense and was acquitted of 2016 murder.
MESA, Ariz., Sept. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Gilbert resident, Jennifer Smith was acquitted of the 2016 murder of her husband, Paul Smith, earlier this month after maintaining she acted in self-defense.
At the conclusion of an 11-day trial that began on August 15, 2022, an Arizona Superior Court jury found Smith not guilty of 2nd Degree Murder and all lesser-included charges. The jury deliberated for approximately two days with the verdict of not guilty being delivered on September 8, 2022. The Arizona Superior Court case number was CR2016-119278.
Ms. Smith testified that she suffered years of domestic violence from her husband, much of which was documented in police reports and court records. On the date of the incident, Ms. Smith explained that her husband threatened to kill her family members. She further testified that she believed he was going to kill her immediately before she fired at him in self-defense. "This is a case about an abusive husband and a wife who defended herself," Smith's defense attorney, Travis Jenson of JacksonWhite, stated in his arguments. He went on to detail the years of abuse and the circumstances that led to Ms. Smith acting in self-defense. Mr. Jenson encouraged the jury to apply the law which required them to view Ms. Smith's actions from the perspective of a reasonable person who has experienced the same domestic violence as Ms. Smith.
Upon the reading of the verdict, a relieved Smith met eyes with her family and hugged her defense attorneys. Smith's defense attorney John K. Dosdall of JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law stated, "This has been a long journey for Ms. Smith and her family. We are pleased that the justice system prevailed and we were able to secure this acquittal for our client."
Smith's family has arranged a crowd funding campaign to help cover her financial loss from the years long court battle.
Founded in 1983, JacksonWhite, P.C. offers a full-range of services to assist individuals, families, and businesses with their legal needs. Since its inception, the Mesa firm has grown steadily to include 22 highly experienced attorneys and over 40 paralegals, legal assistants, and staff. At this size, the firm is large enough to offer the efficiency and technical expertise of larger firms, yet small enough to provide clients with individualized, personalized attention. JacksonWhite has three offices around the state of Arizona including Mesa, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. For more information on a specific attorney or area of practice, please visit http://www.jacksonwhitelaw.com.
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Media Contact
Liz Coyle, JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law, 1 480-464-1111, [email protected]
SOURCE JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law
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