![Little Falls Man Who Killed Teens in his Home Denied New Trial](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2014/04/Byron-Smith1.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Little Falls Man Who Killed Teens in his Home Denied New Trial
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Little Falls man convicted of killing two teenagers who broke into his home on Thanksgiving Day 2012 won't be getting a new trial.
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the 2014 conviction of Byron Smith.
A jury convicted the 67-year-old of first-degree premeditated murder in the fatal shootings of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and her 17-year-old cousin, Nick Brady. Smith was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Smith's attorney argued he didn't get a fair trial. Among other things, attorney Steven Meshbesher said the courtroom was improperly closed to the public on the trial's opening day.
The justices say the alleged errors did not deprive Smith of a fair trial. But they ordered the trial court to award restitution for the victims' gravestones.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Minnesota Prepper Expo Kicks Off Today in Little Falls](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-17.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Minnesota Prepper Expo in Little Falls is Near!](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-15.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Minnesota Prepper Expo is Just a Few Weeks Away](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-10.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![3 Things Minnesota Drivers Should Know About Military Convoys](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/06/attachment-GettyImages-1176889789.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Truth About the Doomsday Prepper Convention in Little Falls](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/03/attachment-darklabs-india-YWR1X-P_bXg-unsplash-e1709305376765.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Is It Illegal To Scatter Someone’s Ashes In Minnesota?](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/01/attachment-noah-silliman-EBB45rCSjrU-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Boomerang In Little Falls Gets A ‘Makeover’ In Time For The Holidays](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2023/12/attachment-Boomerang-Bar.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Central Minnesota Cemetery Hosting Annual Wreath Laying Event](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/12/attachment-2022-12-20-wreaths_tcm1066-552791.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Little Falls Man Killed in Workplace Accident at Firewood Plant](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/07/Emergency1.jpg?w=980&q=75)