Woodbury, NJ –Christian Smith, 28, of Woolwich, was sentenced today to 65 years in State Prison for first-degree murder by the Honorable William Ziegler, J.S.C.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
On Oct. 9, 2021, Smith and his stepfather Dennis McKenzie, Jr., were arguing in their home over offensive comments Smith made about the sexuality of McKenzie’s daughter and her friend. Smith’s mother and sister attempted to diffuse the situation, with his mother putting herself between the two men. As the argument escalated, McKenzie attempted to hit Smith, who then pulled a 9mm handgun from his waistband, held it over his mother and shot McKenzie once in the face and three times in the back.
Smith then disassembled the gun and recorded himself saying “that’s what he gets.” During a two-week trial, the defense argued that Smith acted in the heat of the moment after the victim referenced abuse the defendant had experienced in past relationships. They also claimed the shooting occurred during a struggle over a gun, alleging several shots were fired accidentally before the defendant gained control of the weapon and continued shooting.
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