evidence, the coverup, the truly appalling crime scene in gavin s car, but did it add up to first degree murder? gavin smith had been dead five years. he was killed in his mercedes benz in an act of almost stunning brutality by the defendant, john kreech who s sitting here in the courtroom. this became gavin smith s tomb. but it wasn t an outburst of rage. no, he said. kreech had been plotting for two years ever since he found out about chandy and gavin. back to december 2010 when at their mother s request gavin s sons met with john kreech at his house. we wanted to make sure that my dad was not in harm s way. were you sobbing and crying? yes. and what were you saying to the defendant? i was just begging him not to