Jury deliberations began Tuesday in the “road rage” homicide trial in which a 60-year-old driver is accused of killing another driver who was a National City father of five following traffic mishaps.
Both sides told the seven man five woman jury in closing arguments Tuesday that a trial “is a search for truth.” The case involving the Nov. 27, 2018 death of Horace Vernon Williams, 36, has drawn high interest, and every seat was filled Tuesday in the Chula Vista Superior Courtroom of Judge Garry Haehnle.
Rickey Smith, 60, of San Diego, testified last week that he stabbed Williams in self-defense. His wife and pastor also testified. His attorney, Brian Watkins, suggested Tuesday to jurors they acquit Smith.
“Is it self-defense? Of course it is,” argued Watkins. “Horace Williams attacked Rickey Smith. Rickey Smith defended himself from that attack.”
“Only at the last moment did he go for his knife,” argued Watkins. “Rickey Smith is no cold blooded murderer.”
Both drivers were annoyed with each other in incidents that began around 8:40 a.m. in National City and ended on the Willow Street Bridge which is north of Bonita Road and south of Sweetwater Road in Chula Vista near a golf course.
Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey told jurors Smith stabbed Williams twice in the heart and cut him in five other places while Williams was seated in his silver Nissan Quest minivan. Williams threw a soft drinker container at Smith’s white Ford Ranger before Smith had bumped into his vehicle on the bridge, causing Smith to get out and approach Williams.
“He walked up to that window looking for a fight,” argued Harvey.
After being stabbed, Williams got out and collapsed on the bridge. Harvey played a portion of Smith’s 911 call—a call which his attorney described as a call “to save his life”—as part of her closing argument.
“He cut me off, threw a drink at my car. I was minding my own business,” said Smith to a 911 dispatcher.
“I hit him and then I stabbed him,” said Smith to the dispatcher, acknowledging to her that he was the stabber when she asked him where was the attacker.
“It wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been bothering me. I don’t know why he did it,” said Smith on tape.
“Is this a road rage?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes, it was…I hit him before I stabbed him,” said Smith on tape.
Harvey showed the jury color photos of Williams’ wounds including two holes in his chest.
“That’s what first-degree murder looks like. What he did to that man, there’s no excuse,” argued Harvey.
Harvey discussed other verdicts such as second-degree murder, but told jurors it was not voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. She described manslaughter verdicts as “excuses.”
Watkins said Williams was angry while he was driving and displayed his middle finger to Smith. “Horace Williams created the situation. Horace Williams controlled the situation,” said Watkins.
