If motion is denied, case will move to sentencing

A hearing is slated for Oct. 30 to hear a motion from the Northwood man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in August 2013.

Tyrone Washington Jr. last month requested a new trial after a jury in July found him guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Justina Smith. Washington, 41, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.

It is up to Worth County District Court Judge Colleen Weiland now to decide whether to grant or deny Washington’s motion. If the motion is denied, the case will proceed to sentencing.

Washington’s lawyer, Charles Kenville, in court documents filed last month argued his client was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Smith, 30, also of Northwood, in Swensrud Park. He said the verdict was contrary to the evidence presented at the trial and questioned the credibility of some of the prosecution’s witnesses.

Kenville said there was no evidence that established that Washington possessed the knife involved in the stabbing prior to the altercation with Smith, and there was insufficient evidence to show that Washington acted with premeditation.

The hearing is slated to begin at 10 a.m. in Northwood.