jury on Friday acquitted a former Virginia Tech football player who had been accused of fatally beating a man he says he initially believed from a Tinder match to be a woman.

Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported

Prosecutors had earlier told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered Smith was a man. One of the prosecutors said at closing arguments Friday that Etute gave different versions of events to police and the jury, and that the charge may have been enough for him to change his testimony

Defense attorney Jimmy Turk told the jurors earlier Friday that the commonwealth's evidence was circumstantial, while the defense's evidence, which included the testimony of Etute, was direct.

Turk also said Smith was "controlling the entire environment and the entire episode." He added that Smith had "demanded that it be dark" and had hidden a knife under his mattress "in case there was something awry."

Turk also argued that police didn't ask Etute essential questions about Smith's knife or Etute's fear while in the apartment, two questions whose answers could have shown whether Etute was afraid for his life and acting in self-defense.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/isimemen-etute-virginia-tech-football-player-acquitted-murder/

Good one

From the looks of things,it was self defense and also deception on Smith's part. Glad he's acquitted

He probably went home only to realize the Tinder date looked like this after all the makeup had been washed off

Karlovych:
He probably went home only to realize the Tinder date looked like this after all the makeup had been washed off

Lol you guys won't let this man rest

Flamemignon1:
From the looks of things,it was self defense and also deception on Smith's part. Glad he's acquitted

Yes justice was served

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