Pinckney will stand trial as adult
A Prince William County judge, after barring reporters from the transfer hearing Wednesday morning, found enough evidence to send the case against a teen charged with double murder to a grand jury.
Xavier Pinckney, 17, faces two charges of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 39-year-old Jean Smith and her 19-year-old son, James.
Prince William Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Janice J. Wellington ordered that the Dale City teen will be tried as an adult.
“It is an extremely serious case, it is capital case,” said Prince William Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert.
Before hearing both testimony and evidence in the case, Wellington agreed Wednesday to keep reporters out of the courtroom during Pinckney’s first hearing.
Mark Crossland, a defense attorney for Pinckney, said he had no legal precedent for asking that the hearings should be closed to reporters, but Pinckney’s chances of receiving a fair trail would be jeopardized if reporters were allowed to remain inside the courtroom.
Will Jarvis, a prosecutor in the case, said inaccurate reporting on the murders had caused undue stress for the Smith family.
Family members of Jean and Jim Smith were in the courtroom, sitting in the same room as the accused killer for the first time.
“It’s been a very emotional day. Hearing the details spelled out was obviously very jarring,” said Marty Nohe, a spokesman for the family. “We didn’t hear anything we didn’t already know, but it was very emotional to hear it spelled out step by step.”
Members of Pinckney’s family were also present at Wednesday’s hearing. One woman who later refused to talk to reporters wiped away tears as the 17-year-old appeared in the courtroom.
Jean Smith’s father, Jim Maloney, said his son-in-law, Rick Smith, has kept in close contact with prosecutors. He said his grandchildren have all returned to school.
He said they are trying to move with their lives as best they can, and will be taking part in a Fredericksburg St. Patrick’s celebration next month.
The victims are survived by Jean’s husband and Jim’s father, Rick Smith, and his three children.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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Reader Reactions
Eye For An Eye , double tap to the chest and one round to the head should do it! Of course if hes convicted
People just dont interact anymore I know alot of things have change but we need to get some of that old time back help out your neighbor or let people know whats going on what they see that is wrong. I heard that before they were killed the neighbor saw this young man lurking around but didnt call the police but identified him after the fact he saw him.I gauarantee you his gut feeling told him that he was up to no good. So people try to keep your families and community safe and keep your Nose and your Eyes where they are suppose to be
God Bless a
Keep Safe
I attended a Town Hall Meeting with County Board of Supervisor representatives, Mr Jenkins and Mr Nohe, along with the Chief Keane and other persons responsible for the safety of our community and all emphasised the same thing when it came down to this case and others, the community makes things work. Get involved, talk with your neighbors, wave as you drive by and they are walking their dogs, in other words; INTERACT! How do you know if “something is not right” unless you know what IS right in your community. Only then can we give law enforcement the tools that they need to keep us safe. We are all on the front lines!
Posted by ( JoeDaBeast ) on February 18, 2009 at 2:38 pm
That is Step 1 in the right direction for justice. Next thing, we, as a community have to do, is be on watch for people that could commit an act so cowardice. People claimed they knew what type of guy he was, but more than likely, nothing was done until it was too late.
I Agree with you I read that everyone knew that he was a “BAD BOY” around the neighborhood but no one did anything I have heard it so many times after the fact.People watch your neighbor hood tell and kept telling if you see something thats not right call the police report it and keep reporting it.Maybe just maybe somethng could have been done with this kid a long time ago especially if you say the parents didnt care!!!!!
Never knew the guy but do now, and he’s a smarty pants punk. 17 is just a number. This hunk of inhuman worthless (adult) trash that once proven in court to have taken two lives in cold blood should pay as an adult. HE is not a CHILD. I suppose it may console (justice4all)just a bit to know the poor child will get a night snack before hitting the slab at night as a Juvenile, but at 00:01 on his 18th birthday, the celebration will be a big welcome to the world of Adulthood as an Adult criminal in an Adult jail with other Adult criminals headed for Adult prison. But he may find much comfort since once you take away all their big guns, knives, drugs, money, cars, buddies, women, etc. most criminals become the biggest babies and act like children. LOL
I agree with vmj,Paul Ebert and his attorneys are nothing but jokes.They look for any way to do a plea bargain so they dont have to do their job!If you want to do a crime do it in PW county! always remebering my son WOODY
News Messenger reports “Residents who live near the Pinckney home at 13736 Langstone Drive in Dale City said they were not surprised when they heard it was Xavier Pinckney who was charged in the murders.“ So, you knew him well “Nojustice4thoseIlike?“
Your credibility is worth less than Zero, Zed, Nada, you get the point!
Making unfounded excuses! HOW DARE YOU!
It is more than sad that this “young adult” has to be judged by full grown adults. Should he be judged by the hoodlums he ran with? And, he actually was arrested, and how many times was he detained or suspended or expelled? And, his family didn’t supervise him! And, because of people like you he was let off with a slap on the wrist! what does it take to know him other than by his heinous actions!
YOU ARE AN ENABLER “JUSTICE4ALL!”
YOU ARE AN ACCESSORY TO HIS NEXT CRIME!
HE WON’T GET ENOUGH JUSTICE!
JUSTICE FOR THOSE DESERVING JUSTICE!
JUSTICE FOR THE COMMON GOOD!
JUSTICE FOR JEAN AND JAMES!
If this person killed 2 people he should be punished. Everyone was a child at one time or another and some people grow up to be bad people. justice4all do you really want him around your children? I would not want him around me and mine. Yes it is sad, but for the victims not this guy. I do not feel sorry for him at all.
I am very sad to read this. I knew him and would never hve expected him to do something like this. Its sad that these adults will get on here and write that about a child. What if that was your child? you wouldnt want people saying this things. I dont think these people should judge people they dont know. And thet should never bring his family into it. Also stop talking about his past he was never arrested and all that, thats just someone who neeeds to get their facts striaght before trying to put something out there.
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