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
Recruiting new Agents Mr. DaBeast?
The POLICE knew about this kid. Big time! What’s a citizen going to do they can’t?
Answer:
1. Don’t live in never never land and recognize the world is a dangerous place.
a. Lock your doors.
b. Recognize bad kids are just that. Bad kids.
2. Buy a hand gun w/holster, a self-defense shotgun, a taser and a good high intensity flashlight.
3. Train yourself and your family to defend your family!
4. Vote for Representatives who will preserve that right.
take a life and lose yours it’s that simple
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.
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