PORT ANGELES — The daughter of a man accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his next-door neighbor in June 2011 heard an argument before she heard shots, a Port Angeles police officer said on the first day of testimony in Bobby Smith’s trial.
Smith’s trial in the death of Robert Fowler, 63, of Port Angeles began Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Smith, 60, has said he shot Fowler in self-defense.
Officer Erik Smith — no relation to either Bethany or Bobby Smith — testified Tuesday that Bobby Smith’s daughter, Bethany Smith of Smyer, Texas, was in an upstairs bedroom when the shooting occurred.
The officer said Bethany Smith appeared to be in shock.
“Her face was very pale, and her hands were shaking like this,” said Erik Smith while shaking his hands.
Officer Smith said Bethany heard an argument between Bobby Smith and another man before the shooting.
‘Heard a shot’
“She said that she heard a shot, which was followed by more shots,” Erik Smith said.
“She said that after the first shot and before the other ones, she heard somebody say something akin to ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t.’”
Police said Fowler was shot multiple times with a .45-caliber pistol in Bobby Smith’s living room following a dispute between the next door neighbors.
Smith, a Navy veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, told investigators that Fowler had come to his house demanding money.
Fowler grabbed a knife from Smith’s living room table and threatened to cut Smith’s throat, he told police.
Spencer testified that a knife was found near Fowler’s hand.
Detective Kevin Spencer, the first witness to testify, showed the jury a series of photographs he took of Fowler’s body.
Standing on front porch
Spencer said Smith was standing on the front porch of his Vashon Avenue home when police arrived shortly before 1:30 p.m.
“At that time, I looked through the open door of the residence, and I saw a male body on the floor of the residence, right inside the open door,” Spencer said.
Spencer said he took photographs of the body and the house before medics arrived.
“It’s a basic crime scene investigation procedure to capture the scene as is it before the medics get in there and start kicking items around and moving things,” he said.
Smith was found competent to stand trial in May 2012.
He has been held in Clallam County jail on $1 million bond since October 2011.
Police did not have probable cause to arrest Smith immediately after the shooting. He moved to Amarillo, Texas, that summer and was arrested by Texas Rangers in September 2011.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
