Dude who killed two burglar teens convicted for pre-mediated murder.

[FunnyWeasel]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/p...-kill-23517042


A Minnesota homeowner who shot and killed two unarmed teenagers during a break-in was quickly convicted of premeditated murder Tuesday, with a jury taking about three hours to reject his claim of self-defense.

Byron Smith, a 65-year-old retiree who once set up security in American embassies for the U.S. State Department, shot Nick Brady, 17, and Haile Kifer, 18, multiple times after they broke into his home on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

Smith's attorney said he was fearful after previous burglaries. But prosecutors argued Smith waited in his basement and intended to kill the teens, with a setup so elaborate that lead prosecutor Pete Orput compared it to a deer stand. Their key evidence was an audio recording that captured the killings in chilling detail, including Smith's taunts as the teens died.

The mothers of the teens, who were cousins, cried as the verdicts were read: guilty on two counts each of first-degree and second-degree murder. Smith, who showed no emotion as he heard the verdicts, was immediately sentenced to life without parole. Defense attorney Steve Meshbesher said he would appeal.

Brady's grandmother, Bonnie Schaeffel, was among family members who addressed the court after the verdicts.

She said Smith seemed like a "sour, angry old recluse who felt he was above the law." She added she was sorry his house was burglarized, but said Kifer and Brady should have had the chance to grow up and learn from their mistake.

Kifer's aunt, Laurie Skipper, read a statement from her niece's parents: "Byron Smith made a conscious choice to shoot and kill our beautiful daughter Haile. ... The feelings of helplessness are overwhelming."

Smith's brother, Bruce, walked past reporters afterward without comment.

The teens' killings stirred debate around the state and in Little Falls — a Mississippi River city of 8,000 about 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis — about how far a homeowner can go in responding to a threat. Minnesota law allows deadly force to prevent a felony from taking place in one's home or dwelling, but one's actions must be considered reasonable under the circumstances.

Prosecutors said Smith's plan was set in motion on the morning of the killings, after Smith saw a neighbor whom he believed responsible for prior burglaries. Prosecutors say Smith moved his truck to make it look like no one was home, and then settled into a basement chair with a book, energy bars, a bottle of water and two guns.

Smith also set up a hand-held recorder on a bookshelf, which captured audio of the shootings, and had installed a surveillance system that recorded images of Brady trying to enter the house.

The audio, which was played several times in court, captured the sound of glass shattering, Brady descending the basement stairs and Smith shooting Brady three times. Smith can be heard saying, "You're dead." Prosecutors said Smith put Brady's body on a tarp and dragged him into another room, then sat down, reloaded his weapon and waited.

About 10 minutes later, Kifer came downstairs. More shots are heard on the recording as Kifer screams. Smith says, "You're dying," followed soon by the sound of another gunshot, which investigators said Smith described as "a good, clean finishing shot."

Later on the recording, Smith refers to the teens as "vermin." Smith waited a full day before asking a neighbor to call police.




I am pretty sure his own audio recordings and camera screwed him over. Also imo, if those teens survive, it'll be phucked up for a while...coming back into school probably paralyzed with yo own classmates having no respect for ya. Imagine being in college.

[Radioactive Man]

The two teens deserved to die, but the way the old guy went about it was full on potato. I wouldn't have been so obvious about it.

[Singularity7]

Good the guy went fukinn full potato.

[Dangled]

the jury has no opinion on if smith was in fear of his life. It's such BS.


how the fuk does he know if they aren't armed?

BRB break into my house, can't touch or do anything to you.


I don't give a fuk if they were 17 or 45,

When I was 17 I knew what was right from wrong.

[WrinklyGrandma]

Coup de Gras when she's already incapacitated?
That's murder.

That dude let them rot in his house for a day before notified the police.

Apparently he had cameras rigged all over his house. Don't know how he thought he could get away with this... wonder if he even cared.

Use a shotgun, folks.

[jamesensor]

Pre-mediated.

[Bensontm]

the jury has no opinion on if smith was in fear of his life. It's such BS.


how the fuk does he know if they aren't armed?

BRB break into my house, can't touch or do anything to you.


I don't give a fuk if they were 17 or 45,

When I was 17 I knew what was right from wrong.

I've always been a big supporter of the castle doctrine, but this IMO does not apply. This guy was setting a trap to murder people. Sick guy. Too bad all his recordings betrayed him.

[Singularity7]

This was mentioned in the other thread.
Btw after the guy incapacitated the female and taunting her he shot her in the head three times with the last one putting his gun under her chin.
Then slept the night before contacting police.
As potato as the kids were this old guy has to go.

[Techriding101]

not sure why dude would record it all.

Also don't see the point of sending a 65 year old dude into prison for life, he doesn't have much longer

[TaeBoNinja]

This dude was on some Ramsey Snow type sh!t

[chlaxman]

If only they had been able to make it to mediation!

[Antye]

I'm all for defending yourself in a burglary but this guy seems cold blooded.

[kinwei1994]

Pre-mediated.

fkin potatoes... i swear

[VabaX]

This was mentioned in the other thread.
Btw after the guy incapacitated the female and taunting her he shot her in the head three times with the last one putting his gun under her chin.
Then slept the night before contacting police.
As potato as the kids were this old guy has to go.

this.

[Masterbetaa]

so you are allowed to own guns, but get charged with murder if defending yourself with said weapon

[StevenSeagal2]

Energy bars

[Pronger865]

Dumbass shouldn't have recorded it and called the police after shooting them both.

[BootneckBrah]

Phucking brutal.

To be fair though, even I know that you don't enter somebody's property uninvited in Murica.

Those kids did, and they had a bad time.

Don't think it's justified tbh but, play stupid games etc etc

[JackDanielz3]

He should have had a spare unregistered gun around to plant on them

[dtugg]

Good. He's a psycho.

[BathtubVB]

so you are allowed to own guns, but get charged with murder if defending yourself with said weapon

No...

[Getter_done]

Too bad hes going to prison, he got rid of 2 pieces of shiit, people who break into peoples home and try to rob them dont deserve to live.

[Turbs]

The two teens deserved to die, but the way the old guy went about it was full on potato. I wouldn't have been so obvious about it.

Strong psychopath. What they did was stupid, but breaking into the house for the purpose of stealing rather than actually harming the resident does not even come close to warranting death. Old man deserves life in prison. The guy's clearly a psycho based on the description of how the murders went down.

[mommaofobama]

It's illegal to kill wounded people. Even in war.

[Dangled]

Strong psychopath. What they did was stupid, but breaking into the house for the purpose of stealing rather than actually harming the resident does not even come close to warranting death. Old man deserves life in prison. The guy's clearly a psycho based on the description of how the murders went down.

you have no proof their intent was to just steal. No one does except the 2 victims.


If anyone enters my house, they're getting a bullet through the head.




Guy was a little on the psycho side, but nonetheless.

[WSG1]

Gotta love being able to protect yourself.

[dtugg]

Gotta love being able to protect yourself.

It isn't protecting yourself when you decide to finish off a teenage girl who lies down on the floor bleeding by shooting her three times in the head at point blank range.

[JackDanielz3]

but breaking into the house for the purpose of stealing rather than actually harming the resident does not even come close to warranting death

How does the homeowner know their intentions???? I read a book about serial killers, there was one guy in California whose MO was to confront the homeowner and make a big show about how he was just there to take their money and jewelry. Then once they believed him he would tie them up and kill them

[Turbs]

you have no proof their intent was to just steal. No one does except the 2 victims.


If anyone enters my house, they're getting a bullet through the head.




Guy was a little on the psycho side, but nonetheless.

Really is that why they took the bait of entering his house when they thought no one was home? Are you actually that stupid?

How does the homeowner know their intentions???? I read a book about serial killers, there was one guy in California whose MO was to confront the homeowner and make a big show about how he was just there to take their money and jewelry. Then once they believed him he would tie them up and kill them

Because there had been other burglaries in the area and the guy hid his truck to try to bait them to break into his house?

[HurpnDurp]

i remember this story. Yeah he went full potatoe, probably would have got away with it if he only had the front door surveilance cams as evidance