The family of Christopher Smithers, a 36-year-old personal trainer who was fatally stabbed in March 2022, has expressed profound distress following the dismissal of charges against the man accused of his murder.
The case against Berle Wallace Jr was thrown out last week when High Court Justice Ann-Marie Smith upheld a no case submission made by defence counsel Wendel Alexander.
The alleged incident occurred outside Pita Pocket Restaurant on Popeshead Street, where Smithers was stabbed during an altercation with Wallace.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove that Wallace intended to kill or harm the deceased.
Evidence suggested that Smithers punched the accused and he retaliated by stabbing him.
Speaking on behalf of Smithers’ family, his sister-in-law Janine Smithers said: “We are in total shock and, needless to say, want justice for Chris and to keep Antiguans safe from this man.
“The recent ruling makes no sense. Christopher was stabbed by this man, and it seems only right that he should have faced at least a manslaughter charge. How can it be claimed that there was no evidence of intent?” she queried.
Had the trial proceeded, jurors would have deliberated whether to find Wallace guilty of murder or manslaughter based on claims of provocation, or to acquit him.
Meanwhile, the family argues that the evidence clearly indicated premeditation and questioned the police’s handling of the case.
“During the trial, we found out the police lost all photo evidence of the crime scene. There was only one video of them enjoying their time together before Nathaniel knocked Chris’ beer from his hand, igniting the argument,” she said.
The impact of Smithers’ death on his family has been devastating. Janine shared a deeply personal account of the day they received the news.
“March 1, 2022, I just got my son to bed when we received a message asking us to call them about my brother-in-law Chris. In that moment our lives changed forever. I will never forget the look of sheer terror on my husband’s face. I will never forget the sound of my husband dropping to his knees and throwing up.”
The loss has particularly affected Smithers’ brother, Travis. “That day, we not only lost Chris, but I lost a piece of my husband, Travis. He has never been the same since,” she explained.
She described the close relationship between the brothers, noting that “Chris was Travis’ best friend and vice versa. They were inseparable, even though we lived in different places. Their connection was like no other.”
The family is now taking further action, planning to contact the Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda. They maintain that Wallace “is a dangerous man with a long history of violence and is a threat to everyone in Antigua. Both locals and tourists deserve to feel safe in Antigua.”
The prosecution’s appeal of the decision represents the family’s remaining hope for justice within the legal system.
As they await further developments, they continue to grapple with their loss and their quest for accountability in Smithers’ death.
