Defendant Brian Smith's trial takes a chilling turn as an Anchorage jury witnesses the gruesome evidence of a woman's brutal slaying.
Defendant Brian Smith and his legal team sit facing a screen on which prosecutors played more than 20 minutes of video of the murder of Kathleen Henry, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (Michelle Theriault Boots / ADN)
Since the commencement of Brian Smith's trial, the prosecution has promised the jury an up-close and harrowing account of a woman's torment and murder. That fateful day arrived on Monday when prosecutors unveiled over 20 minutes of video footage, allegedly filmed by Smith himself, capturing the grisly act of strangling and beating Kathleen Jo Henry to death in the early hours of September 4, 2019.
Smith faces charges related to the deaths of both Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, 52. The trial, which began last week in Anchorage, has gripped the city with its disturbing revelations.
A Battle Over Graphic Material
Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby presided over arguments regarding the video's level of violence and its potential impact on the courtroom audience. While court proceedings are public, Saxby also recognized the importance of maintaining respect for the victims and their families.
Describing the videos, Saxby emphasized their gravity, stating, "The videos show a woman's last 35 or so minutes of life. They show her being strangled to death. And she's obviously already been severely beaten by the time the videos were taken, while she's dying."
"In addition to being robbed of her life, she's being robbed of her dignity," Saxby added. "And I have concluded I have a duty not to make the court system complicit in that."
As a compromise, a large screen was set up to face the jury but away from the courtroom gallery, shielding the graphic images from the eyes of family members, news media, and other spectators. However, the audio of the videos would be audible to all present.
Disturbing Testimony
Anchorage Police Department Detective Brendan Lee took the witness stand to provide context for the videos before they were played. Each video lasted a few minutes, revealing haunting scenes of unimaginable horror. Due to the explicit nature of the content, specifics of the video's dialogue and actions cannot be shared.
Narrated by a distinct British South African accent, the videos captured a mixture of elation, annoyance, and chilling references to the act being filmed for an unknown audience. The defendant, Brian Smith, can be heard saying, "Hit the 'like' button" and "I'm trying to make a movie" while strangling Henry. He theatrically declares, "In my movies, everyone dies," adding to the macabre atmosphere.
Throughout the footage, Smith also hints at the existence of other victims, remarking, "People need to cooperate. People need to know when they're being...serial-killed." His laughter and giggles punctuate the sheer depravity on display.
At one point, he callously addresses the unconscious Henry, reminding her that he still needs to dispose of her lifeless body.
The jury was also shown a series of photos, meticulously detailing Smith's actions as he removed Henry's body, wrapped in a sheet, from the hotel room and transported it on a hotel luggage cart to his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
Unsettling Reactions
Jurors maintained their focus throughout the distressing video and audio evidence, alternating between attentiveness and visible discomfort. Meanwhile, family members of the victims could be seen in the gallery, grappling with a mix of sorrow and distress. Some wept, while others held their heads low in grief. A woman in the back row, determined to confront the defendant with unwavering resolve, fixed an unflinching gaze upon him.
Smith's wife, Stephanie Bissland, sat in the front row, her eyes occasionally glancing at her husband as the damning footage unfolded.
As the videos played, Smith remained seated at the defense table, fully immersed in the display before him, sparing little attention from the disturbing reality that unfolded on-screen.
The trial continues, serving as a grim reminder of the horrors endured by Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk, and their families' quest for justice.
