Frank Egan Smith Was Drunk And Stabbed Her, Victim Testifies

PONTIAC – The Clawson woman who was stabbed more than 20 times in an assault in January took the stand Wednesday in 6th Circuit Court to testify against Frank Egan Smith, the man accused of attemping to kill her.

The woman told an Oakland County jury that Smith, 53, was drunk when he showed up to her home on Jan. 2.

Smith,  of Royal Oak, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder and three charges of  criminal sexual conduct. If convicted, Smith could go to prison for life.

Opening arguments and testimony began Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge Leo Bowman.

Smith also is accused of stabbing the woman's 76-year-old mother, who was under the care of her daughter at the time.

The victim, whose testimony is expected to conclude Thursday,  said she invited Smith to her house on Goodale Avenue that January evening.

She said she believes Smith was inebriated when he arrived at her house. He drank an additional  fifth of Canadian Royal whiskey, she testified, while she drank two glasses of champagne.

According to the victim, Smith later went to the bathroom and started stumbling inside. When she went to check on him, she said he began to fondle her.

The woman said Smith then stabbed her more than 20 times with a knife he carried.  She said Smith then stabbed her mother four times after she tried to ask her mother to call 911.

The woman said Smith frequently screamed out, "Your mother's dead and you're dying," as he threatened to keep stabbing her.

The woman said she was eventually able to dial 911 herself, at which point she informed the operator she had been stabbed.

"I left the phone off the hook, because I wanted the line to stay open," she said.

After the police showed up, the woman and her mother were transported to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. She said her left hand now is completely dysfunctional as a result of several defensive wounds.

In her opening statement, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sara Pope-Starnes made an argument about the audacity of Smith's alleged act.

"This is a horrific crime," Pope-Starnes said.

In his opening statement, Taylor informed the jury of their duty and reminded them that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.

"Once you hear all the testimony, no matter how gruesome, no matter how passionate an incident like this you feel, I believe there is only one conclusion you can reach," Taylor said.

"And that is that Frank Egan Smith is not guilty of two counts of assault with intent to murder and three counts of criminal sexual conduct."

Correction: The names of the victims were removed from this story, to protect their privacy. Assistant Prosecutor Sara Pope-Starnes was misidentified.