Columbus suspect on trial for rape kills himself during court break, authorities say
Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling with a mental health crisis, there are resources available. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by texting or dialing 988.
The defendant in a Columbus rape trial left a Government Center courtroom during a break, walked across the street and killed himself outside his attorneys’ office, authorities said Wednesday.
Christopher Smith, 51, was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head at 1:13 p.m. outside 908 Second Ave., Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said Tuesday afternoon.
Court officials said Smith was on trial in Superior Court Judge Maureen Gottfried’s courtroom on two counts of rape when his attorneys, father and son team Shevon Thomas and Shevon Thomas II, sought a mistrial based on a witness sequestration issue.
That was shortly after court started at 11 a.m., witnesses said. Gottfried denied the motion, and Smith’s attorneys asked for a few minutes’ break, so their client could walk to his car, parked off the east side of Second Avenue, to get his glasses.
When he did not return, Shevon Thomas II went looking for him, found the body and reported the death, officials said.
Gottfried afterward dismissed the jury to end the trial.
Court records identifying the defendant as Christopher Daron Smith said he was on trial for two alleged rapes reported over the summer of 2008.
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 4:22 PM.