A tribute/memorial that went up at a light pole near the crime scene in White Center where 23-year-old Maria "Sweetheart" Failautusi was shot to death on Aug. 16, 2011. Anthony Smith admitted to murdering her on Feb. 17.
Update for March 22
Anthony Haroldlee Smith's sentencing for second degree murder in the shooting death of Sweetheart Failautusi, originally scheduled for March 23, has been delayed according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.
Sentencing will occur on April 13 at 2 p.m. before Judge Mary Yu, King County Courthouse, courtroom W-928.
Guilty plea in White Center murder of Sweetheart Failautusi (Feb. 22)
On Feb. 17, 25-year-old Anthony Haroldlee Smith pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the Aug. 16 shooting death of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi, according to King County Prosecutors.
Smith faces 11 to 19.5 years in prison and prosecutors say both the county and defense council will recommend a sentence of just over 15 years when Smith is sentenced on March 23 at 1:45 p.m. before King County Judge Mary Yu.
Smith wrote the following confession to the court:
"In King Co. Wa on August 16, 2011 I, while committing the crime of Assault (second degree) and in the course of and in furtherance of said crime, and with the intent to cause the death of another person, did cause the death of Sweetheart Marie Failautusi. She died as a result of a gunshot wound and I was the person who fired the weapon."
