Kyle Smith (Photo: Winnebago Co. Jail)
A UW-Oshkosh student will stand trial on charges of making the deadly poison ricin at his home. On Monday, a Green Bay federal judge ruled there was enough evidence against 21-year-old Kyle Smith.
Prosecutors say Smith, a senior majoring in biology at UWO, admitted he knew what he was making and shouldn’t have been making it. According to Smith defense attorney William Kerner, Smith never intended to use ricin on humans. Kerner adds that the ricin powder found in Smith’s home was castor bean meal, which is used across the country and falls under different laws and regulations.
Authorities did not find lab equipment at his off-campus home.
The judge ruled that Smith is a danger to the public and that he will remain jailed. Smith was previously suspended by UW-Oshkosh and is also barred from going onto campus.
WTAQ