Jury finds Brian Smith guilty on all charges in Anchorage double murder trial

Margaret F Lestenkof hugs her sister Rena Sapp after Brian Steven Smith was convicted of first and second-degree murder in their sister Veronica Abouchuk’s death, on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at the Nesbett courthouse in Anchorage. Smith was convicted on 14 total counts, including first-degree murder, sexual abuse, misconduct with a corpse and tampering with evidence for Kathleen Jo Henry’s 2019 death and Veronica Abouchuk’s 2018 death.

“My sister Veronica and Kathleen — it’s their day today,” Abouchuk’s sister Rena Sapp said, pointing skyward, after the jury delivered its verdict. Sapp and other family members attended each day of the three-week-long trial. After additional deliberation, the jury also found that Smith “subjected Henry to substantial physical torture,” an aggravator finding that carries a mandatory 99-year sentence on the murder charge related to her death.

There was so much damning evidence against Smith that some questioned how the case even got to trial at all, instead of being resolved by a plea agreement.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Jury showed nylon rope, latex gloves, other evidence linking Brian Smith to two Anchorage murdersAn Anchorage jury was shown latex gloves, nylon ropes, and receipts for Clorox cleaners Tuesday in the murder trial of Brain Smith.
Source: AKNewsNow - 🏆 460. / 53 Read more »

Live coverage of the Brian Smith murder trialThe jury trial of Brian Smith, who is accused of murdering and taking videos and photos of the deaths of two Alaska Native women between 2017 and 2019, officially began Tuesday in Anchorage court.
Source: AKNewsNow - 🏆 460. / 53 Read more »

Looking at Week 1 of the Brian Smith murder trialBrian Smith faces 14 counts, including first- and second-degree murder, assault and tampering with evidence for the deaths of two Alaska Native women. Our Investigative team looks back at the first week of the trial.
Source: AKNewsNow - 🏆 460. / 53 Read more »