A friend of Robert Durham takes the stand on the third day of Adam Smith's murder trial

Editor's Note: This story contains descriptive details of the evidence presented in court that some readers may find disturbing.

CANTON – Friends and acquaintances of Ronald “Huck” Durham and Adam Smith took the witness stand on the fourth day of Adam Smith's murder trial Thursday.

Smith is accused of murdering Durham on February 11, 2023 and William Freeman on March 2, 2023.

Eric Fisher, a former resident of the governor who now lives in New Mexico, said he knew Durham for about two months before his death.

Fisher said he had lived in Governor for about 23 years and lived at his last residence for 12 years before moving to New Mexico about nine months ago to care for his dying sister. After her death shortly after he moved, Fisher and his wife decided to stay in New Mexico, Fisher said.

When asked by District Attorney Gary Pasqua what his relationship was with Durham, Fisher said he was a friend he first met at Stewart's Shops on Route 11 in Governor.

When he met Durham, Fisher said he quickly became friends with the deceased and often helped him with his daily tasks.

Often, Durham would pick Fisher up from his home and take him to Stewart's Shop to buy coffee and cigarettes for Durham.

Fisher said Durham would also buy him staples like milk, eggs and coffee to help him “since he became disabled.”

Durham said he would help “Huck” many times, including repairing a snow blower on his behalf.

At the time of his death, Durham was battling a leg injury after a fall and was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified cancer, several people have testified.

On the morning of February 11, Durham and Fisher drove Durham's Dodge Ram 25oo to Stewarts, where Fisher made his usual purchases on Durham's behalf and left the store at approximately 3:59 a.m

Sometimes they went back to Durham's house and chatted over coffee, Fisher said.

In surveillance footage shown during the Oct. 24 trial, Fisher can be seen re-entering the store shortly after 4:01 a.m. to purchase a cool whip and what is believed to be ground coffee for himself.

He later said Durham also purchased a blueberry drink in his name.

Exterior footage showed the truck, equipped with a red plow and a yellow warning light on top of the cab, leaving the parking lot minutes later and turning north to take Fisher home.

Fisher testified that this was actually the reason the truck left in that direction when Durham was taking Fisher home.

About 15 minutes later, Stewart's security footage showed Durham's truck driving south past the store.

Fisher, a self-described Navy veteran who served as a lieutenant from 1992 to 1995 before being honorably discharged, has said multiple times that he suffers from epilepsy and “short-term memory loss,” the latter of which was caused by a steel plate in his head. He did not specify how the memory loss occurred, but stated that he was not always epileptic.

As a result, Fisher said he was unable to obtain a driver's license.

He noted that Durham always drove his own truck and Fisher would drive around.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Brian Barrett, Fisher was asked how he paid for the goods at Stewart's Shop on February 11.

Fisher said he used his EBT card.

“And what is that?” asked Barrett.

“It’s my food stamps. Come on, you know that,” Fisher said.

Barrett asked Fisher who he had met at Stewart's that morning.

Fisher said the woman who worked there was named “Shelly.” He said he knew this because he saw her every day when he drank coffee and cigarettes at Durham's.

Barrett asked if he knew the other person who worked at the store, to which Fisher replied that he did not.

Barrett also questioned Fisher's participation in the trial and asked how he returned to the North Country.

Fisher responded that prosecutors had bought him a return ticket and put him up in a hotel. When asked, Barrett couldn't confirm which hotel or city he was staying at.

Fisher was also unable to name Pasqua when Barrett asked him to do so. He also was unable to name the three assistant district attorneys who assisted Pasqua in the case when Barrett asked him to do so.

“You got a call from my private investigator, didn't you?” Barrett said.

Fisher confirmed this but said he refused to speak to him.

“And you refused to talk to him?” Barrett asked.

“Yes.”

“How come?”

Fisher said he refused to “talk to the enemy.”

“My private investigator is the enemy?” asked Barrett.

“He killed my uncle,” Fisher said.

“Who did this, my private detective? Barrett asked

“No, dude. Adam West,” Fisher said.

“Adam West?” asked Barrett.

“Adam West. He killed my uncle. So I won’t talk to anyone from his side,” Fisher said.

Fisher became combative several times and said he had refused to answer clarifying questions, prompting Judge Greg Storie to step in and tell Fisher that he was actually obligated to do so unless an objection was raised to a particular question.

“He’s a disgrace to the uniform,” Fisher said of Smith.

Barrett asked how Fisher knew that, to which he said Durham told him.

Barrett questioned Fisher further, including about his time in the military.

He questioned him about, among other things, what branch he served in, when he served, what his rank was and what his job was.

“You served overseas?” Barrett asked.

“Yes.”

“And you were treated by the VA?”

“Yes.”

“And where was that when you were being treated by the VA?”

“I received treatment at the VA locally and in New Mexico.”

“Were you ever diagnosed in the military?”

“PTSPT,” Fisher replied.

Fisher later clarified that he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder twice during his time in the military.

“And did you serve in Desert Storm?”

“Yes.”

“And you were deployed?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Baghdad.”

“You went to Baghdad?”

“Yes.”

Barrett continued his questioning, asking for specific details about Fisher's time. He confirmed that he was a lieutenant during his time in the Navy.

“I was a helicopter pilot,” Fisher said.

“You flew helicopters in the Navy?” asked Barrett.

“Yes, I did,” Fisher replied.

“What kind?” asked Barrett.

“Blackhawks,” Fisher replied.

“Really? I'm a helicopter pilot myself,” Barrett said.

He then questioned Fisher about the aircraft's controls, the correct terms and their functions.

On several occasions, Fisher was clearly agitated and said he could not remember specific names.

“Do you know what the pedals on a Blackhawk do?” asked Barrett.

Fisher replied that pedals are normally used for acceleration, but Barrett asked if Fisher knew they were actually used to control the aircraft's tail rotor.

Fisher said, “There were a lot of pedals” and he didn’t know what they were all for.

Fisher also couldn't remember where the radio button was in a Blackhawk.

“I don’t remember everything, okay? I can't remember everything. “My head is on a steel plate,” Fisher said.

“I have no idea at the moment. I have memory loss. “I no longer have my pilot’s license, so stop asking questions if this has nothing to do with the case,” Fisher continued.

Barrett questioned Fisher about his military past and whether he had had any run-ins with the military police over a motorcycle theft, to which Fisher replied that he had not.

After Durham's death, Fisher said he had police visit him at his home.

He claimed that a police officer took two knives from him shortly after the murder, but he has not yet received them.

When asked why he had two knives, Fisher said they were “for coydogs.”

“Do you have knives for Coydogs?” asked Barrett.

Fisher said he did it because he lived in the country and they were for protection.

Fisher said it was “impossible” to get a handgun in New York state, saying, “No one can get one.”

“Well, I have a gun,” Barrett said.

“You can’t get a gun? “You’re a convicted felon too, aren’t you?” Barrett asked.

Fisher suspected it was because Barrett was a lawyer before Barrett questioned Fisher's criminal record.

Pasqua objected to the insinuation, which was supported by Storie.

Barrett also questioned Fisher about selling his trailer before the move and also questioned who bought the house.

“I don't know. My wife took care of it,” Fisher replied.

When asked why he moved, Fisher said it was “to get away from his ex-wife,” who had called the police.

“I thought you said you moved to take care of your sister?” Barrett asked.

“I did. “I also moved to get away from my ex-wife,” Fisher replied.

In his reinterpretation of Fisher, Pasqua clarified the timeline of events that morning. Fisher said he went home, made a cup of coffee and watched TV.

He was informed of Durham's death several hours later and gave a voluntary statement to State Police Investigator Manor. He also confirmed that he had voluntarily taken a DNA swab after being informed of Durham's death.

When asked if he had ever visited East Riverside Cemetery, Fisher replied that he had not.

The trial continues on October 25 at 9:30 a.m

See previous stories:

“Pathologist Testifies in Adam Smith Murder Trial, Details Autopsy of First Victim”

Several witnesses appear on the second day of Adam Smith's murder trial

“Adam Smith murder trial begins contentious in St. Lawrence County Court”