Former Griz player goes on trial

Former Griz cornerback Jimmy Wilson, 22, will stand trial Sept. 8 in a Los Angeles county courthouse on murder charges from last summer.
Wilson has been held in the custody of the Los Angeles County authorities since his arrest on June 2, 2007, for the shooting death of Kevin Smoot, 29, following a dispute between Smoot and his girlfriend, Wilson’s aunt.
After Wilson showed up at the driveway of Smoot’s house, Smoot was shot in the upper torso and died at the scene.
Soon after charges were filed, Wilson’s grandmother, Gloria Wilson, told the Antelope Valley Press that she believed her grandson acted in self defense, and had arrived at the house to remove his aunt from a domestic abuse situation.

Former Griz cornerback Jimmy Wilson, 22, will stand trial Sept. 8 in a Los Angeles county courthouse on murder charges from last summer.
Wilson has been held in the custody of the Los Angeles County authorities since his arrest on June 2, 2007, for the shooting death of Kevin Smoot, 29, following a dispute between Smoot and his girlfriend, Wilson’s aunt.
After Wilson showed up at the driveway of Smoot’s house, Smoot was shot in the upper torso and died at the scene.
Soon after charges were filed, Wilson’s grandmother, Gloria Wilson, told the Antelope Valley Press that she believed her grandson acted in self defense, and had arrived at the house to remove his aunt from a domestic abuse situation.
She said Smoot emerged from the house with a loaded gun, which sparked a struggle between the two for the weapon. In the middle of the tussle, she said the gun went off and Smoot was shot.
Wilson has made 14 court appearances since turning himself in to authorities, the last of which was Aug. 14.
Former Griz cornerback Qwenton Freeman was said to have also been present at the scene and may have witnessed the shooting, but refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Freeman was dismissed from the team last year after an assault arrest for which he allegedly threw a beer bottle at a man’s head outside of Stockman’s Bar in downtown Missoula. Freeman was later acquitted of those charges.
In June, Freeman was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five deferred for his involvement in a home invasion and attempted robbery in November involving three other teammates.
After the robbery, Freeman fled to Oregon and was later apprehended by U.S. Marshals after failing to return to Missoula for questioning.

michael.gerrity@umontana.edu