Witness Testifies In Trial For Murder Of Seminole Woman

The murder case of a Seminole woman took another step forward Friday after prosecutors called a witness to testify in a preliminary hearing.

Keisha Fabre testified said she saw a fight between Veronica Carlson and Marilee Smotherman, who has been charged with first-degree murder.

During questioning from both prosecutors and defense attorneys, Fabre explained that Smotherman wanted to fight the victim, Veronica Carlson, because of an on-going relationship Carlson was having with Smotherman's boyfriend Roger Gober, who was also charged with first-degree murder in the killing.

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Fabre outlines the chain of events from seeing Smotherman on top of Carlson as Carlson tried to crawl away. Fabre testified that Smotherman "kicked and hit" Veronica Carlson "several times" and that Carlson pleaded for her to stop when she said, "Please stop." "Listen to me." "I'm sorry."

Smotherman did not stop, according to Fabre, until she told her to think about her children. Fabre said she then left the area, but Roger Gober came after her and said Carlson was stabbed near the kidney and she needed to get to a doctor.

Much of that testimony was previously outlined in a previous court document. In that same affidavit Roger Gober explained to investigators what happened. The papers show Smotherman told him to "take care of it" and "cut the throat."

Gober said he checked for a pulse on Carlson, but didn't find one, which was when he "cut the throat." The court papers also show he said he "dug a hole and placed Ms. Carlson's body in the hole face down."

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During questioning from defense attorneys, the issue of meth use arose multiple times. Smotherman's lawyer said in court that he was delving into her mental state. Gober's lawyer mainly focused on the relationship between Smotherman and Gober.

Carlson's family spoke with News 9 after the hearing and explained it was an emotional experience to hear a witness tell what happened the night their sister was killed. They said they just want justice for Veronica.

The judge cut the hearing short and will set another hear early next week