Smith murder trial continues in Gadsden

Roy Thomas "Tommy" Smith

Several witnesses testified Thursday they saw a man driving Carla Smith's blue Jaguar near where her body and vehicle were discovered.  Smith's husband, Roy Thomas “Tommy” Smith is on trial in Etowah county for capital murder in her death.  Carla Smith's body was found Nov. 1, 2010, in the trunk of her car, which was parked in a gravel lot off Pump Station Road, also known as Brooke Avenue.  Myra Hawkins said she got behind the Jaguar as she took her son to school on Nov. 1. She said she did not get a look at the man's face, but said his hair was light colored, like white or grey.  Katherine Stephens saw the same blue Jaguar in the lot as she took her son to school that morning. She said the car was parked, but she saw a man in the driver's seat. She said he had high, rosy cheekbones and a white beard. She said the driver looked like Santa Claus.  When Stephens drove back by the lot later that day, she said she saw the same vehicle parked in the same place, except this time there were police and emergency vehicles around it plus the lot was being taped off as a crime scene. Tommy Smith's nephew, Austin Morgan, testified he cleaned the Smith house after being asked by his uncle if he was still coming by to do so. Morgan said he did this on a weekly basis and found nothing unusual about the request. After he finished cleaning, he then learned that Carla Smith had been killed. The trial is continuing today.