By james art 
Editor’s note: This story contains descriptive details about evidence presented in court that some readers may find disturbing.
CANTON — In the fourth day of the Adam Smith murder trial, friends and acquaintances of Ronald “Huck” Durham and Adam Smith took the stand Thursday.
Smith is accused of murdering Durham on February 11, 2023, and William Freeman on March 2, 2023.
Eric Fisher, a former Gouverneur resident who now lives in New Mexico, said he had known Durham for about two months before his death.
Fisher said he has lived in Gouverneur for about 23 years, living in his last residence for 12 years before moving to New Mexico about 9 months ago to care for his dying sister. After her death shortly after his move, Fisher said he and his wife decided to stay in New Mexico.
Asked by District Attorney Gary Pasqua what the nature of his relationship with Durham was, Fisher said he was a friend he first met at Stewart’s Stores on Route 11 in Gouverneur.
Upon meeting Durham, Fisher said he quickly became friends with the deceased and often helped him with his daily chores.
Often, Durham would pick Fisher up from his home and take him to Stewart’s store to buy coffee and Durham cigarettes.
Fisher said Durham would also buy him essentials like milk, eggs and coffee to help him “because he was disabled.”
Durham said he would help “Huck” many times, including fixing a snowplow on his behalf.
At the time of his death, Durham was struggling with a leg injury after a fall and was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified cancer, multiple people testified.
On the morning of February 11, Durham and Fisher drove Durham’s Dodge Ram 25oo to Stewarts, where Fisher did his usual shopping on Durham’s behalf, leaving the store at approximately 3:59 a.m.
On some occasions, they would go back to Durham’s house and talk over coffee, Fisher said.
In surveillance footage shown during the Oct. 24 trial, Fisher can be seen re-entering the store shortly after 4:01 a.m. to buy a cool whip and what he claims is ground coffee for yourself.
He later said Durham also purchased a blueberry drink on his behalf.
Exterior footage shows the truck, equipped with a red plow and a yellow warning light on the cab, pulling out of the parking lot minutes later, turning north to take Fisher home.
Fisher testified that was actually the reason the truck went that way as Durham drove Fisher home.
About 15 minutes later, Durham’s truck was seen on Stewart’s security footage driving south past the store.
A self-described Navy veteran who served as a lieutenant in the service from 1992 to 1995 before being honorably discharged, Fisher has said repeatedly that he suffers from epilepsy and “short-term memory loss,” the latter of which resulted from a steel plate in his head his. He did not specify how he came to lose his memory, but commented that he was not always epileptic.
As a result, Fisher said he was unable to obtain a driver’s license.
He commented that Durham always drove his own truck and would drive Fisher around.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Brian Barrett, Fisher was asked how he paid for the merchandise at Stewart’s store on February 11.
Fisher said he used his EBT card.
“And what is that?” Barrett asked.
“These are my food stamps. Come on, you know that,” Fisher said.
Barrett asked Fisher who he had met in Stuart that morning.
Fisher said the woman who worked there was named “Shelley.” He said he knew this because he saw her every day when he went in for coffee and cigarettes in Durham.
Barrett asked if he knew the other person who worked at the store, to which Fisher said he did not.
Barrett also questioned Fisher’s involvement in the process, asking how he got back to the North Country.
Fisher responded that the district attorney’s office bought him a return flight ticket and put him up in a hotel. He was unable to confirm which hotel or city he was staying in when asked by Barrett.
Fisher also failed to name Pasqua when prompted by Barrett. He also failed to name the three assistant district attorneys assisting Pascua in the case when prompted by Barrett.
“You got a call from my private investigator, didn’t you,” Barrett said.
Fisher confirmed he did, but said he refused to talk to him.
“And you refused to talk to him?” Barrett asked.
“Yes.”
“How so?”
Fisher said he refused to “talk to the enemy”.
“My private investigator is the enemy?” Barrett asked.
“He killed my uncle,” Fisher said.
“Who did it, my private investigator?” Barrett asked
“No, dude. Adam West,” Fisher said.
“Adam West?” Barrett asked.
“Adam West. He killed my uncle. So I’m not going to talk to anybody on his side,” Fisher said.
Fisher began to fight back repeatedly, saying he refused to answer lead questions, prompting Judge Greg Storey to step in and inform Fisher that he was, in fact, required to do so unless objected to on a specific matter .
“He’s an embarrassment to the uniform,” Fisher said of Smith.
Barrett asked how Fisher knew this, to which he said he was told by Durham.
Barrett questions Fisher further, including about his time in the service.
He went through a series of interrogations that included what branch he served in, when he served, what his rank was, and what his job was.
“Have you served abroad?” Barrett asked.
“Yes.”
“And you were treated by the VA?”
“Yes.”
“And when you were treated by the VA, where was that?”
“I was treated in Virginia locally and in New Mexico.”
“Have you been diagnosed with anything in the military?”
“PTSPT,” Fisher replied.
Fisher later clarified twice that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the service.
“And did you serve in Desert Storm?”
“Yes.”
“And you were sent?”
“Yes.”
“Where to?”
“Baghdad.”
“Did you go to Baghdad?”
“Yes.”
Barrett continued his line of questioning, asking specifics about Fisher’s time. He confirmed that he was a lieutenant while in the Navy.
“I was a helicopter pilot,” Fisher said.
“You flew helicopters in the navy?” Barrett asked.
“Yes, I did,” Fisher replied.
“What kind?” Barrett asked.
“Blackhawks,” Fisher replied.
“Really? I’m a helicopter pilot myself,” Barrett said.
He continued to question Fisher about aircraft controls, what the proper terms were and what their functions were.
On several occasions, Fisher became visibly agitated, saying that he did not remember specific names.
“Do you know what Blackhawk pedals do?” Barrett asked.
Fisher replied that the pedals were normally used for acceleration, but Barrett asked if Fisher knew that they would actually be used to control the plane’s tail rotor.
Fisher said “there are a lot of pedals” and he doesn’t know what they will all be used for.
Fisher also couldn’t remember where the radio button was in the Blackhawk either.
“I can’t remember everything, can I? I can’t remember everything. My head is on a steel plate,” Fisher said.
“I have no idea right now. I have memory loss. I no longer have a pilot’s license, so stop asking questions when it has nothing to do with the case,” Fisher continued.
Barrett questioned Fisher about his military history and whether he had had any run-ins with the military police for stealing a motorcycle, to which Fisher said he had not.
After Durham’s death, Fisher said he had the police visit him at his home.
He claimed that a police officer took two knives from him shortly after the murder, both of which he has still not received.
When asked why he had two knives, Fisher said they were “for coydogs.”
“Do you have any coydog knives?” Barrett asked.
Fisher said he did it because he lived in the country and they were for protection.
Fisher said it was “impossible” to get a gun in New York state, saying “nobody can get one.”
“Well I have a gun,” Barrett said.
“You can’t get a gun? You’re also a convicted felon, right??” Barrett asked.
Fisher suggested it was because Barrett was a lawyer before Barrett questioned Fisher’s criminal record.
Pascua countered the insinuation, which was seconded by Storie.
Barrett also questioned Fisher about the sale of his trailer before he moved, including who purchased the home.
“I don’t know. My wife handled it,” Fisher replied.
When asked why he moved, Fisher said it was “to get away” from his ex-wife, who had called the police on him.
“I thought you said you moved to take care of your sister?” Barrett asked.
“I did it. I also moved to get away from my ex-wife,” Fisher replied.
In Fisher’s cross-examination, Pasqua clarified the chronology of events that morning. Fisher said he went home, made a cup of coffee and watched TV.
A few hours later, he was informed of Durham’s death, volunteering to testify before State Police Investigator Manor. He also confirmed that he voluntarily gave a DNA swab after being informed of Durham’s death.
When asked if he had ever gone to East Riverside Cemetery, Fisher said he had not.
The case continues on October 25 at 9:30 a.m
Check out earlier stories:
“Pathologist testifies in Adam Smith murder trial, details autopsy performed on first victim”
The second day of the trial for the murder of Adam Smith brings many witnesses
“Adam Smith’s murder trial gets off to a contested start in St. Lawrence County court”