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    Police-Fire Reports
    Saturday, May 04, 2024

    Smith murder trial begins in New London

    Relatives of homicide victim Jorge Rosa heard details of his last moments described to a jury for the second time Tuesday as the murder trial of Davion Smith got underway in New London Superior Court.

    Rosa, 25, was fatally shot in his bedroom at 252 Montauk Ave., New London, on Nov. 12, 2011. Smith and Evan J. Holmes were charged with murder in the following days. Holmes was found guilty after a trial in October 2013 and sentenced to 70 years in prison.

    Smith, 22, has pleaded not guilty and is taking his chances with a 12-member jury. He is charged with felony murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, first-degree burglary and home invasion.

    As the trial got underway, New London Police Lt. Lawrence Keating described entering the third-floor apartment at about 4:15 a.m. after a report of shots fired. With other officers behind him, Keating said he walked up to the third floor and smelled marijuana and gunpowder. Rosa was lying on the floor in the front bedroom, gasping for air.

    “I asked him, ‘Who did this to you?’” Keating testified. “He didn’t respond.”

    Emergency Medical Technician Timothy O’Reilly testified that EMTs performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Rosa, who was unresponsive, until a paramedic arrived. The paramedic called a doctor at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, who said lifesaving efforts could be stopped. Rosa was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m.

    Prosecutor Paul J. Narducci displayed for the jury a photograph depicting Rosa lying on the floor in the blood-spattered bedroom. Rosa’s mother, sister and sister-in-law, who had also sat through Holmes’ trial, said it was no easier reliving the details a second time.

    According to testimony at Holmes’ trial, Holmes and Smith, who were close friends, forced their way into Rosa’s Montauk Avenue apartment. Holmes had been involved in a fight with Rosa’s roommate, Todd “T.O.” Silva, a short time earlier at a downtown after-hours club. Silva was not home. Holmes and Smith entered Rosa’s bedroom, where Rosa was asleep with Holmes’ ex-girlfriend.

    Holmes shot Rosa 10 times, according to testimony. Rosa, who was 25, died a short time later.

    Smith is represented by attorney Jeremiah Donovan. Narducci and Sarah W. Bowman from the New London State’s Attorney’s office are prosecuting the case.

    The trial is expected to last through July 2.

    k.florin@theday.com

    Twitter: @KFLORIN

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