South African Man Convicted of Murdering Two Alaska Native Women

The conviction follows a gruesome video recording of one victim's death, leading to a mandatory 99-year sentence.

Brian Steven Smith, a 52-year-old South African man, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the deaths of two Alaska Native women, Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk.
Smith recorded a video of Kathleen Henry's torture and death, which was discovered on a stolen cellphone leading to his arrest.
The jury found that the murder involved 'substantial physical torture,' subjecting Smith to a mandatory 99-year sentence for Henry's murder, with additional sentencing for Abouchuk's murder.
Family members and Smith's wife attended the trial, with mixed reactions to the verdict and the judicial process.
The case highlighted issues of violence against Alaska Native women and the importance of community and law enforcement response.