South African Convicted in Alaska Murders Faces US Citizenship Revocation

Federal prosecutors in the United States are seeking to revoke the citizenship of a South African man, Brian Steven Smith, aged 52, following his conviction for the murder of two Alaska Native women. The case has garnered attention due to Smith's alleged deception on his naturalization application, where he claimed he had not been involved in any killings or inflicted harm upon anyone. This claim stands in stark contrast to his criminal actions, which included the torture and sexual assault of his victims.

Smith was found guilty earlier this year for the deaths of Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, whose age was not specified. The conviction was notably secured after evidence from a video recording of one victim's death, which Smith had stored on a phone later stolen from his vehicle. The memory card containing this damning evidence eventually landed in the hands of the police, leading to Smith's arrest and subsequent trial.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Alaska highlighted that Smith completed his naturalization application amidst committing these heinous crimes. His affirmative response to questions regarding involvement in violent crimes directly contradicts the actions for which he was convicted. As a result, authorities are now pursuing charges against Smith for illegally obtaining naturalization. If found guilty, he stands to lose his U.S. citizenship, though a court date for this matter has yet to be scheduled.

Smith's journey to Alaska began in 2014, culminating in his naturalization the same month Kathleen Henry was murdered in September 2019. He was employed at TownePlace Suites by Marriott in midtown Anchorage at the time of Henry's death. The other victim, Veronica Abouchuk, is believed to have been killed between 2018 and 2019. Smith confessed to picking up Abouchuk while his wife was away and later killing her when she refused to shower, subsequently disposing of her body north of Anchorage. Authorities were able to locate Abouchuk's remains, identified by a skull with a bullet wound, based on Smith's directions.

The swift conviction of Smith by an Anchorage jury came after less than two hours of deliberation on February 22. His sentencing has been scheduled over two consecutive Fridays, July 12 and July 19. It is noteworthy that Alaska does not implement the death penalty, affecting the range of possible sentences for such crimes.

Efforts to reach Smith's public defender for comment have so far been unsuccessful. This case underscores the complexities surrounding naturalization processes and the severe implications of providing false information on official applications.