Covington man found guilty in 2009 murder

By Michelle Floyd (2863)
michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

COVINGTON -- A Newton County jury found Ricky Lewis Smith Sr. guilty of murder in connection with the 2009 shooting death of a Covington woman.

After about an hour of deliberation, the jury found Smith, 46, of Covington, guilty on charges of malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of firearm by convicted felon.

The trial started Tuesday at the Newton County Courthouse with Newton County Chief Superior Court Judge John M. Ott presiding.

Smith was arrested immediately after the incident on Nov. 8, 2009 at his brother's home at 120 Bell St., Covington. He is accused of shooting his brother Steven Cadet Smith, who was transported with serious injuries to an Atlanta trauma center and survived, and fatally shooting another woman at the home, 36-year-old Tajuana Lashawn Stroud of Covington.

He may be sentenced as early as next week.

This is the third murder trial in Newton County this month.

Last week, a jury found a Conyers man, Roland Lebaron Wilson Jr., 26, guilty of murdering his friend in Covington in 2009. Another jury also found a Decatur man, Darrell Antonio Crowder, 52, of murdering his estranged wife in Covington in 2008. Both received life sentences.

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