Burt Hubbard Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer Investigator Lou Smit may have bought himself a trip to the Boulder grand jury by declaring the Ramsey family innocent in the death of their daughter, JonBenet, legal analysts said Monday. It almost guarantees that people on the grand jury are going to be interested in what he has to say. Prosecutors and police spent Monday trying to assess the damage from Smit's letter, while continuing to conduct a grand jury investigation. Smit, a retired Colorado Springs police investigator, was hired by Hunter 19 months ago to help him look into JonBenet's murder. Hunter may be well-advised to call Smit before grand jurors to see how his side of the case plays, University of Colorado law Professor Christopher Mueller said.
Jurors meet again today.
I'm sure that's one of the things he will think about. Hunter's office declined to answer questions on Smit or a possible grand jury appearance. Smit also declined to comment Monday. But Jeralyn Merritt, a defense lawyer, said Smit could write a letter to grand jurors asking to testify. The Ramseys could make the same request, she said.