Teen says he left before deliveryman was killed in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH

Antonio Smith, 17, initially told police he wasn't there when a 50-year-old pizza deliveryman was robbed and killed, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing Thursday.

At the time, Smith said the robbery was Jamal Minggia's idea, Detective M.A. Luck testified.

Both Smith and Minggia, 18, were charged this month with first-degree murder and robbery in the April 25 slaying of Robert Kiesewetter in the Edgefield Apartments area. Smith told police he took the pizza and walked away, thinking the robbery was over, when he heard the gunshots, according to the testimony. He said he ran and at some point heard Minggia calling him. Smith said he took the gun and gave it to someone he knew in the 5600 block of Darby Close.

Police recovered the firearm and Smith identified it as the weapon used, Luck said.

The detective said Smith told them "nothing was planned, it just happened." Smith said Minggia told him he shot Kiesewetter because "the guy was reaching," the detective said.

A preliminary autopsy showed that Kiesewetter died of a gunshot to the chest, the medical examiner said. Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge Joel P. Crowe certified the charges to the grand jury. If indicted, Smith, who lives in the Edgefield area, would be tried as an adult.

Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com