Hearing delayed for Little Falls man accused of killing two teens

Byron David Smith
This Nov. 23, 2012, photograph provided by the Morrison County Sheriff's Office shows Byron David Smith. The Morrison County man has been arrested after he told police he shot and killed two teenagers who he said were breaking into his home on Thanksgiving Day.
AP Photo/Morrison County Sheriff's Office

The next court date for the central Minnesota man accused of killing two teenagers in his home has been postponed to spring.

Byron Smith of Little Falls faces two counts of second-degree murder after authorities say he shot and wounded, then later killed Haile Kifer 18, and Nick Brady, 17, when they broke into his house on Thanksgiving Day.

A Morrison County judge had set a Jan. 22 pretrial hearing to determine admissibility of evidence, but rescheduled it for May 6.

Smith's attorney Steven Meshbesher said state investigators indicated they would not have their evidence ready for several months.

"There was a letter, a document, in the discovery we received where the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said they wouldn't have the analysis back until May or April, and we just showed the judge that letter," Meshbesher said.

Smith posted bond last month and was released from custody.

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