Murder trial date set
Keith Robert Smith is accused of killing girlfriend in Schuylkill Twp.
WEST CHESTER » It took some courtroom cajolery, a little verbal arm-twisting, and, to be fair, just some plain, old-fashioned judicial prerogative in the end, but Monday Judge William P. Mahon got a firm date for the murder trial of a man whose alleged shotgun slaying of his girlfriend was recorded on her cellphone.
Mahon ordered the two attorneys handling the case to be attached by the Chester County Court Administration Office for Aug. 21 to try the case of Keith Robert Smith, who authorities say shot the mother of his children following a heated argument in the couple’s Schuylkill Township home.
Assistant District Attorney Alexander Gosfield and defense attorney Michael P. Quinn of Philadelphia had initially expressed skepticism as to whether they each would
be prepared to take on the case that soon after expert witnesses had prepared reports on Smith’s psychological condition and the state of the single-shot, 12-gauge shotgunhe allegedlyusedto commit the murder.
“I don’t know if that is realistically possible,” Gosfield said at one point, citing reports due from defense and prosecution psychologists and a defense ballistics expert. “They would help possibly resolve the case,” agreed Quinn.
But Mahon was not impressed.
“Did you take tap dancing when youwere young?” Mahon asked Quinn after one non-committal answer about what it would take to get the case ready for trial.
“Actually, judge, my parentsmade me take classical piano lessons, so I do have some rhythm,” Quinn answered.
“I just don’t want to keep kicking this can down the road,” Mahon said later as Gosfield and Quinn continued to suggest that this summerwas too early to begin a jury trial inthematter. “Can we try this the week of Aug. 25?”
When Quinn began to equivocate, Mahon told him: “There are two choices here, ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’”
“Can I say ‘Maybe?’“Quinn ventured.
In the end, Mahon declared that he saw no good reason not to start the case in two months, noting, “I’m always at work anyway.” The two attorneys agreed to set that date as their goal.
On May 2, 2016, Smith, 43, of Schuylkill, allegedly shot and killed 40-year-old Wesley Webb, when she said shewas going to take two of their children and leave the house they shared. Immediately after reportedly shooting Webb in the chest with a shotgun, Smith allegedly attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself but failed.
The couple’s three children, all under the age of 14, were upstairs in the home at the time of the incident. When the children heard the gunshots, they came downstairs and called 911.
Webb was already dead when police arrived at the home located in the 300 block of Buckwalter Road. Smith reportedly told police that he had killed his girlfriend and then attempted to kill himself, authorities said. Police took Smith to a hospital, where doctors performed surgery on his injuries.
According to police, before Smith shot Webb, she started an audio recording on her phone. On the recording, Smith can be heard saying, “You want to record it now ...?” Following is the sound of a gun going off and Smith cursing at Webb. “How’s that?” he said. “That’s where we just went.”
Smith is charged with first-degree murder, thirddegree murder, possessing an instrument of crime, and endangering the welfare of children. He is being held in Chester County Prison without bail.