A knife found in Smith’s truck is believed to have been used in the Durham murder

CANTON. State Police Coroner Daniel Haley has finished testifying in the Adam Smith murder trial after initially speaking during a daytime hearing on Oct. 30.

Smith is accused of murdering Ronald “Huck” Durham on February 11, 2023 in Gouverneur and William Freeman in Ross on March 2, 2023.

The knife matches the weapon used in the Durham murder

On cross-examination by attorney Brian Barrett, Haley was asked about the knife police found in a trash bag found in the trunk of Smith’s impounded 2016 Ford F-150, which was secured in Cortland.

Barrett asked for a timeline of the discovery of evidence, which Haley said took place on March 9, nearly four weeks after Durham’s Feb. 11 murder.

Barrett asked Gailey if he had spoken with Patrolman Austin Fisk of the Cortland Township Police Department, to which Galey said he had not because Fisk was on vacation at the time he was told that Smith’s truck was in the custody of the Cortland Township Police.

Barrett questioned the length of time between the murder and the discovery of the knife, suggesting it may be difficult to prove a knife was used.

But on remand from District Attorney Gary Pasqua, Haley said Dr. Scott Lapointe, who performed the autopsy on Durham on Feb. 12, commented that one injury to Durham’s chin was consistent with a partially planted blade.

The blade of the Gerber knife recovered from Smith’s truck was partially attached, Haley said.

Smith’s truck is unregistered, the investigator says

During his cross-examination of Haley last week, Barrett also questioned the traffic stop that led to the impoundment of Smith’s car in Cortland.

At one point, Barrett entered into evidence a photograph showing the registration and MOT sticker on Smith’s windshield, both of which appeared to be current, according to Haley.

But during a transfer, Pasqua asked Gailey to explain what could lead to a suspension.

Haley commented that several issues can arise, including failure to submit vehicle registration documents, an expired registration that has not been renewed, or a suspended DMV registration due to a loss of insurance coverage.

In Smith’s case, he commented that it was his understanding that Smith’s truck registration was suspended for not having the insurance required by New York State law.

“And the DMV wouldn’t come and scratch that sticker off, right?” asked Pascua.

“No, they won’t,” said Haley.

The location of the Durham murder is in doubt

Although Barrett repeatedly asked Hailey if it was possible that Durham had been killed somewhere else and dumped in the Eastside Cemetery on February 11, Hailey said he believed Durham was killed at the scene.

In his redirect, Pascua went further and asked Haley if he believed Durham was killed in his car.

Photos shown in court show blood near the base of the driver’s door, as well as the running board of Durham’s truck. A small pool of blood was also visible near the driver’s seat.

But Haley said the extensive blood loss seen outside the truck around Durham’s body suggests he died in a cemetery outside his truck.

During his autopsy, Gailey said only one vial of blood could be retrieved due to the massive blood loss Durham had suffered.

Haley also confirmed that Durham’s truck keys were found in his pocket during the autopsy.

Durham died of multiple blunt force injuries and at least three lacerations to his neck, according to an autopsy report read by Gailey in court.

Freeman’s murder draws parallels with the Durham murder

On March 2, the day William Freeman is believed to have been killed, Haley said he was initially at the scene to help with photographic evidence and scene security.

He was only tasked with collecting evidence on March 3, although he said most of the evidence had been collected by other investigators before his involvement.

“At first I was not instructed to collect evidence, but I collected some evidence on March 3,” he said in response to Pascua’s questioning.

Haley said he was not directly involved in gathering evidence at the scene of Freeman’s murder, but was still involved in the case as police collected evidence.

Adam Smith’s murder trial will continue on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Lawrence County District Court.