Etowah County Murder trial underway

Roy Thomas "Tommy" Smith

The trial in the murder of Carla Parton Smith is underway in Gadsden as her husband Roy Thomas “Tommy” Smith is charged with her murder. Prosecuters allege Smith killed his wife to prevent her from divorcing him and taking his properties and assets.   Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid said Smith killed his wife between the night of Oct. 31, 2010, and the next morning and then hid her body in the trunk of her blue Jaguar on Pump Station Road. He said Smith strangled and beat her and then abandoned the body, dressed in scrubs for her job as a nurse at Riverview Medical Center.  Reid said there are witnesses who have identified a man who looks like Smith driving the Jaguar the morning of Nov. 1 on Pump Station Road, and there is video surveillance of the Jaguar passing and then shortly afterward, a silver or gray Nissan Titan driving past the same spot.  Testimony in the case resumes today.