Jury finds Eau Claire man not guilty in homicide trial
An Eau Claire man, who was accused of killing his mother’s boyfriend last year, was found not guilty on all charges, a jury decided Friday, Feb. 16.
Dakota B. Hughes, 23, was charged in relation to the March 2 shooting death of Seth G. Smith, 27, of Venango County, in the home Hughes shares with his mother.
Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Kubit dismissed the jury after the panel deliberated for about three hours Thursday following closing arguments. The jury came back together Friday morning, and their decision arrived before noon Friday.
In closing arguments Thursday, Hughes’ attorney said the shooting was an act of self-defense and asked the jury for mercy, while the district attorney's office said Hughes carried out a premeditated plan to kill Smith.
“He believed his life was in danger or he would be seriously injured,” defense attorney Al Lindsay said during his closing argument.
Lindsay argued Smith was the aggressor and Hughes had no place to retreat and only seconds to react when Smith approached him.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Lope said Hughes committed first-degree murder, arguing that Hughes believed Smith was coming to his house, armed himself in advance and shot him as he had threatened to do.
