DA gets more leeway in West case

Kim Smith

Monday, July 2, 2001 | 10:02 a.m.

Christine Smith, 68, was found dead in a plastic trash can.

The question is, did Smith's daughter, Brookey West, kill her or did she just choose an unconventional method of entombment?

The jury that will answer that question is scheduled to be selected over the next two days.

West, 46, is facing an open murder charge and if convicted, will face a life prison term.

In interviews with the media, West has admitted to placing her mother in the trash can, but insisted she died of natural causes.

Prosecutors Frank Coumou and Scott Mitchell maintain that Smith was probably still alive when she was placed in the trash can. They will try to show that West killed her to get her mother's monthly Social Security checks of about $1,100 a month.

On Friday District Judge Donald Mosley agreed to allow the prosecutors to admit evidence that shows someone was withdrawing money from Smith's account between the time she was last seen in February 1998 and her remains were found in February 2001.

The prosecutors put almost a dozen witnesses on the stand Friday hoping to convince the judge to admit evidence they say shows West as a manipulative liar obsessed with money.

The prosecutors allege that West explained her mother's absence by telling friends she'd gone to live with West's brother.

Travis Smith Jr. disappeared five years before his mother disappeared, however, and prosecutors allege West got his Social Security checks, too.

Judy Chang, a former friend and neighbor of Christine Smith's, said she was surprised to discover her friend gone one day in February 1998. She'd seen her just a few days before and Smith never mentioned she was moving.

Chang said West told her Smith decided to move to Travis' house in California at 3 a.m. and didn't want to waste any time.

Natalie Hanke hired West as a technical writer and consultant in 1997. She testified that West and she became friends, despite West maintaining a residence in both California and Nevada.

West "constantly" complained about her mother, even through January of this year, Hanke said.

Hanke said West described her mother as crazy, controlling and expensive.

West's stepmother also testified Friday.

Prosecutors allege West attacked her stepmother with a stun gun when she confronted West over missing bank funds.

Coumou and defense attorney Scott Coffee said that Mosley was expected to announce today that neither the alleged stun gun incident nor Travis Smith's finances will be allowed as evidence.