Suspect, who allegedly stabbed man over 40 times in La Crosse, scheduled for murder trial

A court in La Crosse found probable cause Monday to try Bryant Q. Smith for murder in the stabbing death of another man.

The 50-year-old Smith is accused of stabbing Timothy Salis more than 40 times during a fight at Stokke Tower in La Crosse last December, after the two had been drinking.

Smith claims that Salis was “black-out drunk” and tried to choke him so he defended himself with a knife.

Two police investigators testified Monday about the fatal wounds received by Salis.

Defense attorney Michael Cohen made a motion to have the case dismissed, arguing that the investigators do not have medical training and have not proved that the stab wounds caused Salis’s death.

Cohen said the court had “no choice” but to drop the murder charge.

Prosecutor Susan Donskey said the state isn’t hiding anything and did not feel bringing a forensic expert to the stand was needed at Monday’s hearing.

Donskey told court commissioner Helen Kelly “I think that a man who was living, and then had 44 stab wounds, and then he’s dead” is enough evidence for Smith to be bound over for trial.

Smith could enter a plea of not guilty at his next hearing, expected in April.