Delmer Smith guilty of first-degree murder in death of Bradenton woman, Kathleen Briles
Posted: 08/09/2012
BRADENTON, Fla. - A jury in Bradenton jury spent less then three hours deliberating Thursday before finding Delmer Smith guilty of murdering Kathleen Briles. Prosecutors said he killed her with a sewing machine during a robbery in August 2009.
The jury began to deliberating about 11:00 a.m.at the Manatee County courthouse.
Jury members had requested to review some of the transcripts before reaching their verdict.
The trial started Monday of this week.
Investigators said Smith randomly targeted Briles' home. Briles' husband, a doctor, testified this week about how he found his wife dead inside their home in Terra Cia.
Prosecutors said Kathleen Briles' family identified some items stolen from the home as the same items found inside a storage unit used by Smith.
The defense claimed there was no DNA evidence connecting Smith to the murder scene.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Smith is already serving a life sentence for kidnapping a Sarasota woman.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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