State police investigator continues his testimony in the Adam Smith murder trial

CANTON, N.Y. (WWNY) – Trial proceedings in the Adam Smith murder trial concluded for this week late Friday morning with continued testimony from a State Police investigator who was questioned by the defense.

State police investigator Mark Tyler was the only person to take the stand Friday as he continued his testimony in the Adam Smith trial.

Smith is accused of killing both Ronald “Huck” Durham and William Freeman in February and March last year.

Defense attorney Brian Barrett continued to question Tyler about his work on the scene the day of Durham's death. Tyler had only been working as a detective for a month at the time of the murder and it was his first murder scene in the role.

He also testified that Durham's body was found outside his truck surrounded by blood, but that blood was also found on the passenger side of his truck.

Eleven witnesses have testified since Tuesday, and so far the trial has focused primarily on the Durham case.

During opening statements, jurors learned of possessions owned by Durham. A knife with both Durham and Smith's DNA was found in Smith's truck.

District Attorney Gary Pasqua also revealed that blood from both victims was found on Smith's boots.

Pathologist testimony revealed that both men died after their necks were slashed with a knife.

Jurors also saw photos from the scene of Durham's murder at East Riverview Cemetery, where he visited his wife's grave every day.

Surveillance video showed Smith arriving at a Gov. Stewart store about half an hour after Durham on the morning of his death. He had told police they wanted to meet for coffee, but left after the manager told him that Durham was already there that morning.

When that manager, Heather Dixon, took the stand Thursday, she said the two had not spoken.

The trial continues on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. when the twelfth prosecution witness takes the stand.

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