In a shocking turn of events, a stolen digital memory card has become pivotal evidence in a double murder trial set to commence this week in Anchorage, Alaska. The card, which was taken more than four years ago by a woman with a criminal history, contains disturbing photos and videos of a woman being brutally beaten and strangled at a Marriott hotel.

The accused, Brian Steven Smith, a 52-year-old South Africa native, has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including first- and second-degree murder, sexual assault, and tampering with evidence. The victims, Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, 52, were both Alaska Native women and had experienced homelessness. They hailed from small villages in western Alaska.

According to court documents, the harrowing images on the memory card were discovered about a week after it was stolen when the woman turned it over to the police. Recognizing the voice in the videos as that of Smith, whom they had previously investigated, authorities swiftly arrested him. The recordings depict the attacker with a strong accent, urging the victim to die and callously remarking, "In my movies, everybody always dies."

Further investigation revealed that Smith was registered at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in midtown Anchorage from September 2 to September 4, 2019. The first images capturing the victim's body were time-stamped at around 1 a.m. on September 4. The final images, taken on September 6, showed the victim's body in the back of a black pickup truck. Location data indicated that Smith's phone was in the vicinity of Rainbow Valley Road, where Henry's body was later discovered.

During questioning about the Marriott case, Smith voluntarily confessed to another murder. He provided authorities with a photo and the location of the remains of his second victim, Abouchuk, along the Old Glenn Highway north of Anchorage. Dental records were used to confirm that a skull with a bullet wound, previously misidentified by Alaska State Troopers in 2018, did indeed belong to Abouchuk.

The defense attempted to have the memory card's evidence excluded, arguing that the theft compromised its authenticity and provenance. However, Third Judicial District Judge Kevin Saxby ruled that the woman who initially found and stole the card can testify about her possession until she handed it over to the police. He also permitted the recordings to be authenticated.

The trial, which is expected to last three to four weeks, began on Monday with jury selection. Prosecutors had considered closing the courtroom to prevent the public from viewing the gruesome videos. However, Judge Saxby reassured that while safeguards would be in place to protect those in the gallery and watching the livestream, the trial would remain open to the public.

The families of the victims have chosen to maintain privacy and have not made any public statements. Smith's wife, Stephanie Bissland, and his sister in South Africa declined to comment until after the trial. The trial itself is expected to shed light not only on the heinous crimes committed but also on the cases of violence against marginalized Alaska Native women, emphasizing the need to treat them with dignity and respect.

As the trial unfolds, the haunting images and videos from the stolen memory card will play a crucial role in the pursuit of justice for Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk.