Assistant District Attorney Greg Griggers wasn’t sure what he’d get from his star witness in the murder trial of Mary Annette Miller. That’s because his star witness had already confessed to the killing himself.

Michael McCreary and Miller were both charged in the 1999 murder of Alma Smith. McCreary, who admitted stabbing Smith, pleaded guilty in November 2001. Earlier this week, Miller pleaded guilty to felony murder and received a life sentence. She is eligible for parole in seven years.

That didn’t mean Griggers wouldn’t fight hard for the Smith family. In fact, he said he could have "impeached his own witness," if that’s what it took to get testimony from McCreary. But the case never came to that, much less a trial.

Instead, the victim’s family allowed Griggers to get the best possible chance of punishing Miller, who was present when Smith was killed.

Griggers said he was pleased that the family didn’t have any reservations about the end result of a heinous crime.

Smith and her husband, Enoch Smith, were the victims of an assault by Miller and McCreary that began on a drug-riddled night. According the Griggers, Miller and McCreary robbed a liquor store, sold the liquor for crack cocaine and then went to the home of Jimmy Glass.

Outside of Glass’ home, dogs began a frantic bark that sent Miller and McCreary fleeing. They ended up at the Smith home, where they robbed and assaulted both Alma and Enoch Smith.

Enoch Smith survived the attacks, but died a year later due to another illness.