Trans woman: I killed him because I feared rape

Wearing a long ponytail and loop earrings, Matthew "Maddie" Smith took the witness stand Thursday to describe the events that led her to stab a man 72 times.

Smith is on trial for murder in the stabbing death of Eric Schreiber, 39 of Villa Hills on New Year's Day 2014.

Smith, 26, a transgender woman from Crescent Springs, claims she killed Schreiber in self-defense.

The first two days of Smith's trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Smith had a vendetta against Schreiber and had made threats. The defense began its case Thursday and called Smith to the stand as its first witness.

Smith had befriended Schreiber's stepdaughter while the two worked at Citibank. Smith talked on the stand about his transition over the past four years from male to female, and how his friends and family supported her. Schreiber's family welcomed her with open arms, she said.

"Never in my life have I met with a more accepting group of people," Smith said.

So why did she stab her friend's stepfather 72 times? Smith said she feared Schreiber would rape her.

"I know if I didn't defend myself with every ounce of my body, who knows what he would have done?" Smith said.

While Smith was close with Schreiber's family, the relationship with Schreiber was less than congenial. Smith said Schreiber groped her chest and hovered close to her at a Fourth of July party.

But the tension thawed and the two found themselves Dec. 31, 2013, at the Independence home of Schreiber's sister-in-law, Debbie Long.

Smith claims she rebuffed the sexual advances of Schreiber earlier in the night. At midnight as the ball in Times Square dropped, Schreiber wanted a kiss on the lips, Smith said.

She said no to Schreiber.

It wasn't until about six hours later that Smith said events took a dark turn as the two were in the kitchen. Smith said Schreiber approached her from behind and put both hands on her hips and pressed against her. She said she could feel his erection.

Smith had taken two knives out of a drawer in the kitchen. She went out into the backyard when Schreiber came out, Smith testified. It was there that Smith said Schreiber grabbed her.

Smith said she took a knife and began flailing. When it was done, Schreiber lay dead with 72 stab wounds, and a blood-soaked Smith ran into the house waking up Long and Schreiber's wife, telling them she killed him.

"I didn't try to run away," Smith said. "I ran to the family that loves me."

For prosecutors, the 72 stab wounds went beyond self-defense. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Leanne Beck grilled Schreiber on why it took 72 stabs to feel safe.

"After you stabbed him 15 times, you still felt fear from him?" Beck questioned.

Smith responded that he didn't count.

Beck asked the same question for 42 stabs, 60 stabs, 64 stabs and 70 stabs.

"At 72 stab wounds, that's when the fear stopped?" Beck said.

In response, Smith said, "There wasn't a finish line."

Smith maintained she closed her eyes and defended herself.

Schreiber's family has disputed Smith's characterization of Schreiber as an attempted rapist.

Shaking with grief and clutching what appeared to be her dead husband's Pittsburgh Steelers coat, Schreiber's wife, Vanessa Schreiber, took the witness stand Thursday just before the prosecution rested its case.

She said her family often hugs and kisses to show affection.

"My family is very loving," Vanessa Schreiber said. "We hug people and kiss people when we see them. We're very open. I don't know if people take it in a flirtatious way. We're just very loving people."

Vanessa Schreiber went to sleep early that night at her sister's Independence house where she, her husband, and other family and friends celebrated the New Year.

She said she awoke when Smith burst through her door drenched in blood saying she killed her husband.

Vanessa Schreiber called 911, but reacted with disbelief.

"I'm dreaming," she said through tears on the witness stand. "This is not true."

The defense is scheduled to continue presenting its case Friday.