About 30 people packed into an Everett courtroom on March 5 to hear the sentencing of Alan Smith who was convicted of killing his estranged wife, Susann Smith, in Feb. 2013. Ultimately, Smith was sentenced to 28.6 years, minus time served, and 36 months of community custody after release from prison by Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krees. It was an intense and emotional hearing for all involved and Smith spoke to courtroom for on the second time during the past month.

The same court convicted Smith on Feb. 4 of premeditated murder in the first degree with a deadly weapon.

Craig Matheson, prosecutor, requested the 344-month sentence with 36 months of community custody, along with no contact with any of the witnesses who testified in the case and limited contact to he and Susann’s two children.

Before the sentencing took place, the court heard from family members and took into account victim impact statements from family and friends who could not be in court. A call was even placed to Susann’s family in Germany, to ensure they had nothing more impart to the court.

Alan Smith spoke on his own behalf, waiving the counsel he had been appointed. He question some of the fees being assessed, many required by statute, and the no contact with his children.

“I have not been in any way pushy with (Susann’s sister) in regards to her guardianship of the children,” Smith said. “If she believes I have been pushy or may become pushy in the future, she can request a no contact order. In this state it’s much easier to get one than get rid of one.”

He also requested that two phone calls between him and his family in Texas be played for the court. The first was not the one he had been looking for and then asked the court to disregard the call it just heard; it contained a conversation with a sister the day after the verdict.

“I’ve had a really difficult 24 hours, wanted to speak for a little,” Smith said of the verdict during the phone conversation. “Things are weird. Truth is stranger than fiction.”

The second phone call contained contact between him and a sister, then his father.

Smith’s father gave him the advice of “God is in control of everything” and asked if he wanted the family to come speak on his behalf during the sentencing.

He replied with a simple, “thank you” during the phone conversation.

“Pray over it, think on it. We’ll make it happen if you want it to happen,” his father said during the conversation. “God be with you. I’m sorry you’re goin’ through this, but God be with you.”

He concluded by speaking about his estranged wife he was convicted of killing.

“Susann was a beautiful person… I’m deeply ashamed I was not able to provide [help] for her,” he said. “I’m deeply ashamed at my behavior even though she had issues, it was a moment of deep pain and turmoil in my life. During which I, as someone said, badmouthed Susann.”

“She didn’t deserve any of what happened to her,” Smith said.

Krees rendered her statement by echoing Smith’s statement’s moment before.

“Certainly, she did not deserve any of what happened to her,” Krees said.

“Children growing up without either parent. Mrs. Smith’s parents have lost their only child, the sister’s family lost their sibling, and Mr. Smith’s family, too. There’s many friends and family that are now without a person they care about,” said Krees. “The biggest tragedy is that Mrs. Smith lost her life.”

Smith has already served 20 months since his arrest on June 27, 2013. The court imposed the required fees, around $600.

Krees sided with Smith in that she alowed custody and guardianship hearings, and Susann’s sister who currently cares for the children, determine what level of contact he will have with his children.

It is currently unknown where Smith will spend the majority of his sentence. Tuesdays are the usual day that inmates are transferred from county jail to a transfer correctional facility in Shelton, where Smith’s final prison will be decided based off his danger to others and criminal record.