Man Accused of Killing Wife Appears in Court
JACKSON, Tenn.–A man accused of killing his wife stood before a Jackson judge on Monday. The judge arraigned Michael Smith via video chat. Police say the 41-year-old shot and killed his wife, Christy Smith, Friday night at their home on Holly Ridge Cove. The judge set his bond at $500,000. “They can start out just as an argument and they can escalate all the way up to homicide,” said Capt. Tyreece Miller, with the Jackson Police Department. Jackson police confirm they responded to two separate domestic violence incidents involving the Smiths. The first incident in 1996, officers say Smith reported his wife sprayed him with mace. The second incident in 2001, officers arrested Smith on simple domestic assault. “The allegation was that he grabbed her arm and he hit her in the eye and we determined that he was the primary aggressor,” said Miller. The district attorney‘s office confirms Smith was also convicted of attempted aggravated burglary in 1999. “They can turn very very violent very quickly,” said Cinda Gee, clinical manager at the Wo/men‘s Resource and Rape Assistance Program, (WRAP). Gee helps victims of domestic violence. “Holding somebody who’s abusive accountable is the biggest preventative measure from escalating,” said Gee. The judge agreed to let Smith undergo a mental evaluation. According to police records, officers responded to service calls at the Smith house approximately 16 times since early 2005. Some of the incidents include domestic disturbance and disturbing the peace calls. Police and counselors encourage victims to report domestic violence.
