Domestic-related homicide of Eugena Smith of St. Thomas Ontario

[Rinna]

This is a close to home story, I knew this woman we were just starting a friendship and this news saddens me deeply.

On a personal note I can add to this story. She was planning a nice birthday party for her daughters 4th birthday in July. She was also in the process of trying to leave her families religion around the same time as leaving her husband, she was really starting a new life. The religion she was in did not celebrate birthdays so it was a very special event for her. She will be greatly missed!

Husband charged in wife's death
By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA

Eugena Smith, whose husband is now charged in her death, was a sweet woman who worked several jobs and loved her little girl, friends say.

The 33-year-old St. Thomas resident was found dead in her Balaclava Street home early Thursday in a reported shooting.

Her estranged husband, Michael Smith, 35, is charged with first-degree murder.

"She was a good lady, hard worker. Just a quiet person," said a friend who asked his name not be published. "Everybody misses her."

Eugena worked part time at a local Chinese restaurant and reportedly also cleaned houses. It's unclear what Michael did for a living, though they had lived in the home for about a year.

The couple had a daughter -- believed to be about three years old -- and police said yesterday the youngster wasn't in the home at the time of her mother's death.

"She wasn't there and she's safe," St. Thomas police Const. Anders Nielsen said. "She wasn't exposed to what happened, directly."

The friend described Michael Smith as a "nice person" but added that in "the last few months, they had problems."

Neighbours heard him working on interior renovations until late Wednesday.

It was about 6:30 a.m. Thursday when James Morphy, a nearby resident with a police scanner, heard officers called to a shooting at 9 Balaclava St.

He said he heard officers say a conflict erupted when a woman told a man she was leaving him.

Investigators yesterday termed Smith's death a "domestic-related homicide." Michael Smith will appear in court via video on Monday.

Between 1993 and 2006, there were no homicides in St. Thomas. But over the past year there have been three, including this latest case.

"It goes to show you that no community is immune," Nielsen said.

Source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/06/09/4247567-sun.html