NEW ORLEANS - A man who has been arrested in connection with four different murders but never convicted is on the streets after having skipped out on his latest court date.
Video: Watch the Story
Garelle Smith, who was scheduled to stand trial Wednesday on a minor felony charge, has been the subject of several 4 Investigates reports.
"I didn't figure he'd stay in there. He done beat so many charges," said Linda Tapp Porter.
Smith was accused of killing her son, rapper Soulja Slim, in 2003.
According to court records, Smith has been accused of murder four times in Orleans Parish but never convicted. He also has more than 15 felony arrests on his record.
"It's a two edged sword. A lot of people would say that he got away with murder. And then other people, like myself, would say I went through the system with him and it was adjudicated and didn't have enough evidence to proceed," said defense attorney Rick Tessier.
After prosecutors dropped the latest murder charge against Smith last March, he was arrested for allegedly damaging a fence at the St. Bernard housing project, a development that no longer exists.
Smith was then arrested again on a 'felon with a firearm charge.'< /p>
Former Violent Offender Unit attorneys Mary Glass and Tania Faia talked about the weapons charge during a CNN special about crime in New Orleans.
"When I heard he was re-arrested, I was thrilled because I had kept in touch with some of the victim's families on these cases, and I was thrilled to say he's in jail, and we're looking at a felon with a firearm charge, which is ten to fifteen years [in jail]," Glass said during an interview last fall with CNN.
For legal reasons, though, the judge dismissed the firearm charge against him in December.
On Wednesday, Smith was scheduled to stand trial on the property damage charge, but he didn't show up for court.
Last year when he was about to stand trial on the same charge, he walked out of court because the judge wanted him drug tested.
"If and when he's arrested, he will be held without bond," Teissier said.
But in many cases, similar arrest warrants are only executed if police stop a suspect for something else
So, until then, Smith remains free.
If he's arrested and convicted on the latest charge, Smith could be sentenced to some prison time. Sources said it would likely be less than five years.
