Garner Man Charged in WakeMed Officer Killing Appears in Court
Benji Martin Jr., the Garner man charged with murder in the November 8 death of WakeMed officer Roger Smith, made his first court appearance on November 25, days after his release from a hospital. The filings presented by his defense and calls from family members for release of hospital surveillance video raise questions about mental health, institutional transparency, and public safety for Wake County residents.
Benji Martin Jr. appeared in Wake County court on November 25 after being released from medical care, facing a charge of murder in the November 8 death of WakeMed officer Roger Smith. Court filings cited by the defense say Martin sought help for mental health reasons in the period leading up to the incident, and that his fiancée suffered a miscarriage. Family members and supporters have urged officials to release hospital surveillance video that they say will clarify the events surrounding Smith's death.
The district attorney declined to comment on the case, which is under active investigation. Prosecutors have charged Martin with murder, and if he is convicted he could face life without parole or the death penalty. The case follows the burial of Roger Smith earlier in the month, and community attention has turned to both Smith's law enforcement background and the circumstances of his death at a WakeMed facility.
The filings and public appeals highlight several policy and institutional questions for Wake County. Residents and local leaders will likely press for clarity about hospital security protocols, the handling of mental health crises in medical settings, and the transparency of evidence release during criminal investigations. The request for surveillance video underscores community demand for visible documentary evidence in high profile cases and for timely communication from public institutions.
The criminal proceedings will determine legal outcomes, but the case is already shaping public debate about how health care providers, law enforcement, and prosecutors coordinate when emergencies involve patients and officers. For local voters and civic groups the case may influence advocacy priorities for oversight, mental health resources, and procedural reforms in county institutions. Court schedules and further filings will determine next steps in the prosecution, and Wake County residents seeking information should monitor official court notices and statements from the offices involved.
