Mother Who Brutally Murdered Boyfriend In Front Of Police Sentenced to 5 Years
Sep 07, 2023, 01:00 AM
A 30-year-old mother from Georgia has been sentenced to spend less than a decade behind bars for the killing of the father of her youngest child. Quaneesha Nicole Johnson was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and other charges related to the death of 29-year-old Demonte Smith, a case that has sparked debate about the justice system's handling of domestic violence incidents.
The verdict was handed down by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris on Tuesday. Judge Morris ruled that Johnson will serve a five-year prison sentence followed by five years of home detention and 10 years of probation for the 2022 slaying of Demonte Smith. The incident unfolded while multiple police officers were present outside their residence.
The jury found Johnson guilty on multiple counts, including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault with family violence, cruelty to children, and possessing a firearm during a felony. Notably, she was acquitted on the charge of malice murder. Prosecutors had sought a much harsher penalty of 25 years in prison followed by five years of probation.
During the sentencing, Judge Morris acknowledged Johnson's efforts to ensure her safety after Smith had reportedly threatened her. She also pointed out that the police at the scene allowed both Johnson and Smith to return to their home without proper intervention, a decision that Judge Morris suggested contributed to the tragic outcome.
According to a statement from the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, the incident occurred on the night of November 26, 2022. Johnson had left her three children at home with Smith, her live-in boyfriend at the time, as she went out with friends. She was expected to return home by 6 a.m. the next morning.
Smith was worried because Johnson had called him earlier that night and said she and her friends got in a fight with other people in the club. When she didn’t return home, he attempted to contact Johnson but received no response. Alarmed, he reached out to Johnson's family members, who shared his concern as Johnson's phone was switched off. Desperate to locate her, Smith and Johnson's family contacted local authorities, hospitals, and jails.
Johnson eventually turned her phone back on around 9 a.m. on November 27, receiving a barrage of messages from Smith. A heated phone conversation ensued, during which Smith threatened Johnson due to her prolonged absence. Feeling threatened, Johnson called 911 and requested a police escort to her home.
Upon her return to the house, an altercation unfolded between Johnson, Smith, and the responding officers. Despite attempts to mediate, the situation escalated. Johnson was advised to put her firearm in her car, and the officers attempted to calm the situation by sending Johnson and Smith back inside the house, unescorted.
As she walked inside, Johnson asked the officers what would happen if she shot Smith “in self-defense,” adding that she had already looked up the state’s self-defense laws. It was unclear what the officers said in response, but they remained on the scene and planned to wait a few minutes before attempting to de-escalate the situation again.
However, before that could happen, Johnson came back outside, grabbed a metal tire iron and her gun from her car, and returned to the house.
“Johnson hit Smith in the head with the tire rod and then shot him. The gunshot can be heard on the 911 recording and Johnson repeatedly saying ‘bye’ to Smith,” prosecutors wrote in the release. “Smith went outside to find the police officers and told them, ‘She hit me in the head with a metal thing and then shot me. Hurry up before I die.’ Smith then collapsed.”
During the trial, Johnson testified that Smith had a history of threats and violence towards her. However, investigations later revealed that Johnson had directed one of her children to falsely report that Smith had hit her. Johnson eventually confessed to authorities that Smith had not assaulted her that day.
The lenient sentence has generated significant controversy, with critics questioning the adequacy of the punishment for such a grave crime. Judge Morris' decision to grant Johnson house arrest during her appeal process has added further fuel to the debate surrounding the case.
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The verdict was handed down by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shondeana Morris on Tuesday. Judge Morris ruled that Johnson will serve a five-year prison sentence followed by five years of home detention and 10 years of probation for the 2022 slaying of Demonte Smith. The incident unfolded while multiple police officers were present outside their residence.
The jury found Johnson guilty on multiple counts, including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault with family violence, cruelty to children, and possessing a firearm during a felony. Notably, she was acquitted on the charge of malice murder. Prosecutors had sought a much harsher penalty of 25 years in prison followed by five years of probation.
During the sentencing, Judge Morris acknowledged Johnson's efforts to ensure her safety after Smith had reportedly threatened her. She also pointed out that the police at the scene allowed both Johnson and Smith to return to their home without proper intervention, a decision that Judge Morris suggested contributed to the tragic outcome.
According to a statement from the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, the incident occurred on the night of November 26, 2022. Johnson had left her three children at home with Smith, her live-in boyfriend at the time, as she went out with friends. She was expected to return home by 6 a.m. the next morning.
Smith was worried because Johnson had called him earlier that night and said she and her friends got in a fight with other people in the club. When she didn’t return home, he attempted to contact Johnson but received no response. Alarmed, he reached out to Johnson's family members, who shared his concern as Johnson's phone was switched off. Desperate to locate her, Smith and Johnson's family contacted local authorities, hospitals, and jails.
Johnson eventually turned her phone back on around 9 a.m. on November 27, receiving a barrage of messages from Smith. A heated phone conversation ensued, during which Smith threatened Johnson due to her prolonged absence. Feeling threatened, Johnson called 911 and requested a police escort to her home.
Upon her return to the house, an altercation unfolded between Johnson, Smith, and the responding officers. Despite attempts to mediate, the situation escalated. Johnson was advised to put her firearm in her car, and the officers attempted to calm the situation by sending Johnson and Smith back inside the house, unescorted.
As she walked inside, Johnson asked the officers what would happen if she shot Smith “in self-defense,” adding that she had already looked up the state’s self-defense laws. It was unclear what the officers said in response, but they remained on the scene and planned to wait a few minutes before attempting to de-escalate the situation again.
However, before that could happen, Johnson came back outside, grabbed a metal tire iron and her gun from her car, and returned to the house.
“Johnson hit Smith in the head with the tire rod and then shot him. The gunshot can be heard on the 911 recording and Johnson repeatedly saying ‘bye’ to Smith,” prosecutors wrote in the release. “Smith went outside to find the police officers and told them, ‘She hit me in the head with a metal thing and then shot me. Hurry up before I die.’ Smith then collapsed.”
During the trial, Johnson testified that Smith had a history of threats and violence towards her. However, investigations later revealed that Johnson had directed one of her children to falsely report that Smith had hit her. Johnson eventually confessed to authorities that Smith had not assaulted her that day.
The lenient sentence has generated significant controversy, with critics questioning the adequacy of the punishment for such a grave crime. Judge Morris' decision to grant Johnson house arrest during her appeal process has added further fuel to the debate surrounding the case.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com