Amanda M. Hughes

The defense attorney argued in his closing argument his client would have been acquitted if the case were tried as a homicide, and police “jumped the gun” in their investigation.

Amanda Hughes, 28, now of Pittsburgh, was sentenced to 48 months probation, $12,000 in restitution and the cost of prosecution Friday, March 21, by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Kubit.

Hughes initially was charged with homicide in the Feb. 5, 2022, death of Anthony D. Smith, who was 30, in their Cranberry Township home. A plea agreement was reached in February, bringing the charge down to misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter.

Hughes pleaded no contest in the agreement, deciding to accept the judge’s sentence.

Defense attorney Kenneth Haber said a wealth of evidence suggested Hughes endured a history of domestic violence living with Smith. He said the evidence may have led to an acquittal by a jury if it were a homicide trial and asked Kubit to consider the domestic violence history and events that preceded Hughes shooting Smith when deliberating his sentence.

“It would have been obvious to this jury,” Haber said.

Haber said Hughes came home to Smith preceding the shooting to make up after an argument. He said the two were in their bedroom, and Hughes was sitting on her side of the bed facing away from Smith when he began to punch her in the back of the head near the top repeatedly as she tried to cover herself. Haber said this was the most Smith hit Hughes at one time.

Haber established both Hughes and Smith owned firearms, and Hughes knew Smith’s was in the bedroom but not exactly where. Haber said the history of domestic violence and being unaware if Smith’s gun was on his person led to Hughes shooting him out of fear.

Haber said after the shooting, Hughes ran out of the house, calling for neighbors. She called 911 asking for help while outside. He argued police “jumped to conclusions” and did not allow for photos to be taken of Hughes’ injuries before she was taken to jail.

According to medical records, Hughes experienced concussion symptoms for longer than a week afterward, and the bruises she suffered from the violence were present a month after the incident, Haber said.

Haber continued to argue Hughes stayed in the relationship due to her internal battle of fearing and caring for Smith.

“The most deadly time for battered women in relationships is when they leave,” Haber said.

Haber established a pattern of domestic violence, saying Hughes underwent abuse almost daily, and the shooting came after Smith was “relentless” in attempting to control her. He showed bloody photos of Hughes’ injuries after Smith would punch or burn her with lit smoking devices. Other instances included Smith attempting to suffocate and drown Hughes in a bathtub, and attaching a tracker to her vehicle.

Haber highlighted the Butler County medical records for Hughes, an Allegheny County resident, sit around 150 pages.

“Everything I’ve been through, nobody knows,” Hughes testified.

Haber explained he did not think Hughes would have been found not guilty in a murder trial because of her history of domestic violence from Smith. Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine allows residents to use deadly force when protecting themselves in their home, but Haber doesn’t think it would have applied because Smith also lived in the house. He said women who experience domestic violence often don’t have a right to defend themselves under current laws.

Assistant district attorney Laura Pitchford took a different approach. She called three witnesses to testify to the amount of restitution Hughes should be required to pay.

The witnesses were David Michener, president and CEO of Allegheny Cemetery, where Smith was buried; Lathon Kenyon, a funeral assistant with D’Alessandro Funeral Home & Crematory; and Jarod Smith, a financial recovery specialist with the Pennsylvania Victim Compensation Assistance Program.

Kubit ruled Hughes would pay $8,000 to Allegheny Cemetery and $2,000 each to the victim compensation program and a relative of Smith who helped pay funeral costs.