A first-degree murder defendant’s statements to police in a fatal high-speed car crash were thrown out of the case that is scheduled for trial in July.

Macomb County Circuit Judge Michael Servitto ruled prosecutors cannot use Angel Rickey Smith’s statements to police while he was being treated in a hospital for injuries he suffered in a Sterling Heights road crash nearly four years ago. It is alleged he caused the crash, which killed Emmon Woods, 20.

Smith’s attorney, Josh Van Laan, and attorney Stanley Szot successfully argued to get Smith’s May 1 and 5 statements removed from the felony-murder case against him. The charge carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole.

Servitto ruled last week Smith’s Miranda rights were not provided to him by two Sterling Heights officers, who claimed they did provide them, at the May 1 encounter when Smith also had just come out of surgery and may have been impacted by medications, according to Van Laan.

He also ruled additional statements to two Sheriff’s officers four days later could not be used.

The crash occurred April 29, 2021, after Smith, 21, had stolen a Jeep Cherokee near Romeo and was traveling 76 mph on Van Dyke when he drove past a red traffic signal at 15 Mile Road and crashed the Cherokee into the Chevy Malibu driven by Woods.

Van Laan declined to comment on the impact of the rulings on the case but that Smith insists he was not driving the vehicle when the crash occurred.

“He asserts he is not guilty of the offenses he is charged with because he was not the driver,” Van Laan said. “We are prepared to defend the case at trial.”

A jury trial is scheduled for July 29.

Smith’s co-defendant, Taiyon Jennings, 23, the alleged passenger, was sentenced this month to 43 months to 10 years in prison by Servitto after pleading guilty last December to breaking and entering and larceny on the accusation that he assisted Smith in stealing the Jeep from Jim Riehl’s Friendly Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Romeo at Van Dyke and 30 Mile Road in Washington Township.

Sheriff’s deputies in two patrol cars broke off chasing the suspect vehicle north of Hall Road due to the high speeds.

Two Dodge Chargers and a Dodge Challenger also were stolen by from at garage at the dealership at about 11 p.m. by a group of five cohorts who broke in, according to police. The other three individuals shown in surveillance video were not captured.

Jennings was initially also charged with first- and second-degree murder but those counts were thrown out on the basis he was not the driver.

In regards to Smith resolving his case via a plea, Van Laan said, “We’re certainly open to working with the prosecutor.”

Smith remains held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.