Days before his upcoming trial, a senior resident of Annapolis Valley has admitted to the killing of his wife at their residence in Kingsport, N.S., almost four years ago. Douglas Andrew Smith, aged 74, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Kentville regarding the death of Iris Dodd, aged 72, in 2022.
The sudden guilty plea by Smith, who was initially facing trial for second-degree murder, took many by surprise. Jury selection was set to commence the following week, but after negotiations between the Crown and the defense, Smith opted to plead guilty to the lesser charge.
During the court session, Crown attorney Daniel Rideout outlined the events leading to Smith’s admission. Smith drove to the New Minas RCMP detachment on the morning of May 1, 2022, and contacted 911, confessing to his wife’s death and taking responsibility for it.
Although Smith admitted to smothering his wife during the call, the medical examiner’s report did not conclusively confirm this. When RCMP officers entered their Kingsport home, Dodd was found in a recliner chair covered with a blanket, showing no signs of struggle.
Rideout mentioned in court that Smith’s decision to kill his wife was influenced by recent eviction from their residence and Dodd’s deteriorating health. Smith is currently out on bail under specified conditions and is awaiting sentencing in Kentville in July.