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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 21, 2001
TAMPA -- A judge allowed George Ira Smiley to get out of jail Tuesday while he awaits a new trial on charges of killing a 23-year-old woman in a car crash after a police chase.
Circuit Judge Rex Barbas let Smiley post $5,000 bond while he waits for a second trial on charges of vehicular homicide.
Authorities said Smiley, 38, ran a red light in July 1999 after being chased by an off-duty Tampa police detective. His car struck and killed Svetlana Belyakova, a Russian immigrant driving with her daughter through the intersection of Nebraska and Waters avenues.
A jury convicted Smiley in January of vehicular homicide, but Circuit Judge Ralph Stoddard threw out the conviction because of a mistake made during the trial.