LEESVILLE, La.—A Louisiana woman is accused of lying during the murder trial of her boyfriend, who has since been convicted of killing a Fort Polk soldier.
News outlets report 26-year-old Dominishca Smith, of Leesville, was arrested Monday and charged with perjury. The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department says Smith gave authorities conflicting statements during this month’s trial of Tobias Williams, who was found guilty last week of killing Jonathan Ellis.
PERJURY ACCUSATION: Authorities say Smith’s story ‘continued to evolve’ from her statements before a grand jury to her testimony last week in Tobias Williams’ murder trial. https://t.co/ufgxpm1PE1
— FOX29 LAKE CHARLES (@FOX29LC) March 26, 2019
Tobias Williams found guilty of 2nd degree murder & obstruction of justice in connection to the 2016 death of Captain Jonathan Ellis. Williams admitted to burning the victims body down to bone fragments after Wanda Gordon shot Ellis. She‘s serving 40 years for manslaughter. pic.twitter.com/R8qaMqZESt
— Lydia Magallanes (@MagallanesLydia) March 22, 2019
The sheriff’s office says Smith changed her testimony during the course of the trial in an effort to exonerate Williams and blame an unknown masked assailant. It says prosecutors were able to prove Smith’s testimony was “outlandish and false” during the closing arguments of the trial.
It’s unclear if Smith has a lawyer. Williams is set to be sentenced next month.
GUILTY of 2nd degree murder and obstruction of Justice #localnews https://t.co/U5HdpBgjOk
— BDN/LDL News (@BdnLdl) March 22, 2019