Defense attorney for Florida deputy accused of pilot's death is former congressman and prosecutor

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The defense attorney for a deputy sheriff accused of shooting a black senior U.S. Air Force airman in the Florida Panhandle is a well-known trial lawyer with decades of experience, as well as a former prosecutor and state legislator who ran unsuccessfully for governor.

Attorney Rod Smith's legal career includes his team's prosecution of serial killer Danny Rolling in the 1990s. Rolling's murders of five college students terrorized Gainesville, Florida, home to the University of Florida, and Smith was a prosecutor.

Rolling pleaded guilty to the murders and his criminal trial was televised. Smith argued that Rolling deserved to be executed, telling jurors, “If these crimes do not justify the death penalty, it is difficult to imagine what kind of crimes there would have to be to justify such a recommendation.”

The rolling was carried out in 2006.

Smith, a Democrat, was elected to the Florida Senate in 2000 and served for six years representing a district that includes the Gainesville metropolitan area. He ran as the Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2006, but lost the nomination to U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, who was later defeated by then-Republican Charlie Crist.

Four years later, Smith was selected by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink to run on her ticket for lieutenant governor. She lost to Republican Rick Scott and his running mate Jennifer Carroll. Smith also served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party for three years beginning in 2010.

A judge on Tuesday denied bail for Smith's client, former Okaloosa County Deputy Eddie Duran, 38, who was charged with manslaughter with a firearm after he shot and killed 23-year-old Roger Fortson on May 3. The rare charge against a police officer in Florida is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Smith did not respond to an email or voicemail message left at his office on Tuesday.