Wife of accused in Smith killing arrested

DURHAM -- The wife of a man charged with an historical murder has been charged with obstructing the police investigation of the case.

Linda Smith, wife of Alan Smith, was arrested Saturday and remanded in custody after a brief court hearing. The 61-year-old woman is charged with obstructing police and attempting to obstruct police.

The charge is typically laid against someone accused of lying to police or otherwise willfully obstructing an officer.

Ms. Smith was interviewed by police investigating the murder of Beverly Smith -- no relation to the woman charged -- who was found dead in her Raglan home in December 1974. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Linda Smith and Alan Smith, who have since separated, were neighbours of Beverly Smith and her husband in the village in the 1970s. The couple told police they had discovered the dead woman in her home. They were interviewed by investigators immediately after the killing and again when the case was reopened recently, police spokesman Dave Selby said.

After an intensive review of the cold case Durham cops arrested Mr. Smith, who has been living with a daughter in Cobourg, on March 17 of this year. He’s charged with second-degree murder and has been released on bail while he awaits trial.

Linda Smith appeared briefly in an Oshawa court Tuesday and was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing Thursday. Crown counsel Brenda Green indicated the Crown would not oppose release if proper sureties are tendered.