The homicide shook up the quiet community of King?s Contrivance in Columbia and led to wild, disorderly conduct at Howard County General Hospital.
Now, in Howard?s first murder trial of 2007, county prosecutors expect to spend close to a week presenting about 18 witnesses as they attempt to convict Mike Dean Jackson, 28, of Columbia, in the murder of Anthony James Owen-Smith, 20, of Savage.
The trial is expected to begin today with jury selection and opening arguments and continue Tuesday with prosecutors? first witnesses, said T. Wayne Kirwan, spokesman for the Howard County State?s Attorney?s Office.
A Howard County grand jury indicted Jackson in July on a first-degree murder charge for the June 23 shooting death of Owen-Smith.
Jackson told police he acted in self-defense, and shot Owen-Smith because Owen-Smith and his friends tried to beat up Jackson and Jackson?s brother following an earlier argument, according to court records.
In the hours after Owen-Smith?s shooting, several of the victim?s friends, including Austin Reidemonn, of Columbia, and Britney Miles, of Jessup, were upset when demanding to see him at Howard County General Hospital.
Reidemonn and Miles were arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Police said about 25 people came to the hospital to see Owen-Smith, but hospital security guards did not allow them to enter the area.
Several of the visitors began “acting in a disorderly fashion, shouting and trying to force their way back into the emergency room,” said police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn.
Reidemonn pleaded guilty Dec. 20 to failing to obey an officer?s order and was sentenced to four days in jail. Miles pleaded guilty in August to disorderly conduct and was fined $100.
