2008 murder suspect on trial

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jclark@sunmulti.com

Opening statements were held in the trial for a man accused

of being the driver and lookout in the murder of Mario Smith in 2008.

According to the prosecution, Stewart Brannon, along with

Joshua Rounsoville, both of Eatonton, contacted Smith, who at the time was

employed with the Houston County Board of Education and “expecting his first

child,” about the 1987 red Chevrolet Monte Carlo he was selling.

“What they actually have is a criminal plan,” Deputy

District Attorney Dan Bibler told the jury. “To get that car by criminal

means.”

The two men called Smith and asked him to meet with them 13

days before Smith was murdered, but Smith was unable to meet them that day,

said Bibler. The three planned to meet at the Glass Doctor on Aug. 23.

Bibler told the jury that Rounsoville test-drove the car

with Brannon following the Monte Carlo in his truck. After the test-drive,

Rounsoville shot Smith in the storage area with a 9 mm pistol.

The next day, Smith’s brother, Seanon Dinkins found his

brother’s body at the storage area, according to Bibler. A 9 mm shell casing

was also found. The weapon was not recovered.

Rounsoville is currently serving a life sentence without the

possibility of parole for the murder of Smith.

Bibler then told the jury that 13 days prior to Smith’s

murder, the same two suspects were involved in another shooting in Forsyth that

also involved a car.

“Both times Brannon was the driver and the lookout,” stated

Bibler, who said that Brannon admitted to being involved.

Because he was allegedly involved in the murder as a party

to the crime, he is charged with malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery

and aggravated assault.

Brannon’s attorney Jeff Grube started his opening statements

by telling the jury members, “Nobody should die a death like that.”

Grube called Rounsoville a “cold-blooded killer” and told

jurors “every time he’s been placed under oath, he’s told a different story.”

He also told the jurors that he would be presenting

witnesses that will say Brannon was in Putnam County at the time of the murder.

“No matter what we do, we are not going to bring Mario Smith

back,” Grube stated.

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