Longmont man now set for trial
A Longmont man accused of assaulting and attempting to strangle his wife is set for trial in the fall.
David Smothers, 54, pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree assault and second-degree tampering, according to online court records.
Smothers, who remains out of custody on a $5,000 cash bond, is now set for a four-day trial starting Oct. 23. He also has a motions hearing on Oct. 4.
According to an affidavit, police responded to a domestic violence call April 25 in Longmont.
Smothers’ wife told police that Smothers had been drinking that night and that they got into an argument.
The woman told police Smothers hit her in the arm with an oscillating fan and then put a trash can over her head.
She said Smothers hit the trash can and started choking her as she struggled to get the trash can off her head.
The woman told police Smothers also punched her in the stomach, but she was eventually able to get the trash can off her head.
But she said Smothers grabbed her and forced her onto the bed where he tried to suffocate her with a comforter as he said, “I’m going to (expletive) kill you.”
According to the affidavit, the woman told police she was eventually able to get away from the home and call for help.
When police arrived, they noted bruises and scrapes on the woman’s body. The woman also said her earrings were ripped out when Smothers put the trash can over her head.
Police pulled over Smothers in his vehicle at about 2:18 a.m. the next day after officers did not find him at his home.
Smothers told police he was not trying to kill his wife, and said he did not remember the whole incident.
But he did tell police he remembered putting his hands around her neck and that he deserved to be arrested.