Gregory Smith, of Springfield, Vt., shows the jury how he pushed Wesley Wing away from his car and shot him during Smith's trial in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction, Vt., on Feb. 8, 2018. Smith testified that he fired his gun in self-defense after being assaulted by Wing. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Gregory Smith, of Springfield, Vt., shows the jury how he pushed Wesley Wing away from his car and shot him during Smith's trial in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction, Vt., on Feb. 8, 2018. Smith testified that he fired his gun in self-defense after being assaulted by Wing. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Geoff Hansen

White River Junction — Jurors began deliberating around 3:15 this afternoon in the second-degree murder trial of Gregory Smith, a 32-year-old Vermont man accused of shooting a father of four near Springfield High School in April 2015.

Deliberations followed closing arguments today from both the prosecution and defense. 

Smith and his attorneys contend he shot and killed Wesley Wing on April 18, 2015, out of self-defense after Wing attacked Smith while he was seated in his car on Cheryl Lane, a short dead end street off South Street. Smith has pleaded not guilty.

However, prosecutors say Smith set up his “kill shot” and fired five shots at Wing after Wing got into an argument with Smith’s girlfriend, Wendy Morris. Police in an earlier affidavit said the argument started over Morris’ alleged drug use in the neighborhood, but that was never introduced at trial.

Windsor Superior Court Judge Timothy Tomasi instructed jurors on the elements of second-degree murder, as well as the lesser offenses of involuntary manslaughter and voluntary manslaughter.

Posted at 3:30 p.m. For a full story, see Tuesday’s Valley News.