Diren Dede’s Host Family Gives Emotional Testimony in Markus Kaarma Trial

Randy Smith, who hosted German exchange student Diren Dede along with his wife Kate Walker, took the stand to give emotional testimony about his time with Diren and the events of the fateful night Diren was fatally shot in Markus Kaarma's garage.

Smith and his wife have hosted many exchange students over the years and became a 'welcoming family' after their own son went off to college. They were asked to temporarily host Diren Dede back in August of 2013. Smith began to tear up after describing how he took Diren to lunch on his first day in Missoula, saying "he was just such a great kid." The Smiths gave Diren the option of staying with them instead of switching to a home with another kid his age and Dede accepted.

Diren flew into Missoula on the same flight as Robby Pazmino and the two became fast friends ("like brothers," as Pazmino himself testified). Smith liked Pazmino and let him hang out their home frequently. The two were doing just that on the evening of April 27, 2014. Smith recalls giving them permission to go to a bonfire with friends who were expected to pick them up.

When Smith went downstairs again at around 10:45 p.m. the two were still playing FIFA games and told him that weather had canceled the bonfire. Smith told them to turn the television down and returned upstairs. He eventually went to bed, but usually has trouble sleeping. He was just drifting off when he was startled by four loud bangs (describing a pause before the final bang like many of the other neighbors). He assumed it was fireworks, and at first he just rolled over in bed and continued trying to sleep.

Smith began to realize something was wrong when he heard sirens approaching. He listened to see which way they turned, and was surprised when they sped by his house. At that point Smith realized he hadn't heard Diren and Robby downstairs in a while. Rushing down, Smith found Robby standing beside the ping pong table. He said a quick hi and took two steps past him into the TV area expecting to see Diren, but the room was empty.

Smith asked where Diren was and Robby replied "I don't know." Smith ran and checked Diren's room, but it was also empty. Smith again asked Robby where Diren was, and Robby told him that the two teens had gone for a walk and heard shots. Robby wasn't sure if they were firing at him but he had been scared and run away.

Smith ran upstairs to wake his wife and tell her that something bad had happened. The three headed outside and across the street. About that time an ambulance raced past them, heading out of the subdivision. Arriving on Deer Canyon he saw red and blue lights everywhere and knew this was where the bangs had come from. He looked around for Diren, hoping he would be a spectator watching the lights, but Diren was nowhere to be seen.

For the second time, Smith became emotional as he recalled approaching a female officer to tell him that the German student staying with him was missing. The officer told him to go to the hospital (Pazmino was asked to stay behind for questioning). By the time he got there Diren had died.

Defense declined to cross examine Randy Smith and he was excused.