SMITH CONVICTED OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER vs

DISTRICT ATTORNEY BOB LEE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT DAMIEN SETH SMITH WAS CONVICTED OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF DON PAUL KOVAKOVICH. THE JURY TRIAL LASTED 6 WEEKS. KOVAKOVICH WAS FOUND DEAD IN A SANTA CRUZ HOTEL ROOM, IN APRIL OF 2003. HE HAD BEEN BRUTALLY BEATEN AND STRANGLED . SMITH, WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON SEEN WITH KOVAKOVICH , WAS ARRESTED WHILE USING THE VICTIM'S CAR. EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL ESTABLISHED THAT THE 2 MEN SHARED DRUGS AND HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. THE JURY DELIBERATED FOR ALMOST 4 DAYS BEFORE REACHING THEIR VERDICT.