Suspended Virginia Tech linebacker Isi Etute was granted a secured $75,000 bond on Wednesday in the Montgomery County District Court in Christiansburg.
Etute, who was arrested on June 2 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Blacksburg resident Jerry Paul Smith, 40, is to be released under house arrest and will wear an electronic monitoring device. He can only leave home for his court appearances. He cannot leave the state of Virginia.
New details emerged from Etute’s hearing on Wednesday in the death of Smith. We will add tweets from Michael Niziolek of The Roanoke Times concerning Wednesday’s proceedings as he was in the courthouse.
The Commonwealth revealed new details about statements Isi Etute made to the police, according to the Commonwealth Attorney, Etute told the police that he was matched up with an "Angie" on Tinder and met for oral sex on April 10
— michaelniziolek (@michaelniziolek) June 9, 2021
According to Etute's statement to police, he punched the victim five times in the head and then continued punching them on the ground and "stomping" them, he heard gurgling as he left, and didn't call the police
— michaelniziolek (@michaelniziolek) June 9, 2021
Etute’s lawyer, Jimmy Turk, gave an impassioned plea to the judge to consider bail for Etute.
Isi Etute's lawyer Jimmy Turk gave an impassioned plea for for bail to the judge, he argued that regardless of the circumstances of the crime, Etute wasn't a flight risk or danger to the community given the unique circumstances of the crime
— michaelniziolek (@michaelniziolek) June 9, 2021
Also, more details about Smith’s injuries were outlined in the court Wednesday. Per Niziolek, Smith “had all the bones in his face broken, his teeth missing, and multiple cranial fractures.”
Andy Bitter of The Athletic added the following:
There'll be no expedited appeal for #Hokies LB Isi Etute. His $75,000 secured bond will stand, with additional restrictions.
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) June 9, 2021
He's not to come to Montgomery Co. except for court appearances & to meet with counsel. He'll be under house arrest and subject to electronic monitoring.