Waterville - A Winslow man charged with fatally shooting another man after a bar fight in Waterville was once again in front of a judge today. Police say 30-year-old Matthew Partridge shot and killed 26-year-old Justin Smith last Tuesday night outside of You Know Who's Pub in Waterville.

After a lengthy debate between Assistant Attorney General Andrew Benson and defense attorney Pam Ames, Judge Michaela Murphy granted Partridge bail in the amount of $700,000.

Benson asked the judge to hold Partridge without bail while Ames was seeking bail in the amount of $20,000 surety or $10,000 cash, an amount Benson called "woefully inadequate."

The bail argument provided a glimpse into possible things to come if this case does go to trial.

Court documents show two different versions were told to police about what happened that night leading up to the murder. Both sides agree that at some point the victim, Justin Smith, punched Partridge in the face and Partridge retaliated by shooting Smith. But what led up to the shooting is still being debated.

According to court documents, the initial fight started when a friend of Partridge became angry after a friend of Justin Smith "rubbed his leg with his own leg which offended him."

According to court documents, those friends of Justin Smith told police that Smith was in the bar with two friends. Meanwhile, his two friends claim they were approached outside the bar by two men they did not recognize, "one of whom was talking aggressively." One of the men punched Smith's friend in the face. The man who was struck told the two men he had a concealed weapons permit in an attempt to scare them off. The two men then say they went inside the pub to get Smith.

According to court documents, minutes later Smith and his two friends left the bar and approached a gray Dodge Dakota pickup truck parked in front of the pub. Smith walked to the truck and spoke to the driver, Matthew Partridge, saying "who likes to sucker punch people?" The witness claims Partridge pulled out a handgun and fired two shots at Smith and fled the area.

Smith was shot in the face. He died at a local hospital a short time later.

In court today, Benson said Partridge was not trying to merely defend himself. Benson argued that by getting in his truck and returning to the scene of the original fight carrying a loaded gun, Partridge was instead "looking to up the ante and not a true exercise of self defense."

Defense attorney Pam Ames claims her client thought he was acting in self-defense. Ames told Murphy this case goes beyond just a shooting in retaliation for a punch in the nose. "These two individuals were leaving the Concourse....they wanted to go away. To get away," Ames told the judge.

Ames argues Smith would not let Partridge simply leave. She says Smith stood in front of the truck and would not allow Partridge to leave. "Mr. Smith is the initial aggressor. Mr. Smith is the one who approached the truck. Mr. Smith is the one who punched my client in the face. For no reason whatsoever. No explanation, no I'm getting back at you...my client was in fear for his life," Ames said.

Ames was also quick to point that Partridge had a concealed weapons permit issued by the Winslow Police Department and the gun he used was perfectly legal. "This really isn't murder. If anything it's manslaughter, at best, if it's anything," Ames said.

Under Maine law, a person has the right to defend himself or another person when he has a reasonable belief that person was going to use deadly force against him or her.

Matthew Partridge's Version Of Events:

Court documents show, Matthew Partridge told police he was drinking at the downtown Waterville bar with friends the night of the murder. Partridge says that when he left he observed one of his friends in a fight with two unknown men. According to Partridge's statement, he tried to break up the fight, but was not involved in the original fight himself.

Partridge told police Justin Smith stepped in front of his truck. When Partridge rolled his window down he claims Smith walked to the driver's side window and punched him in the face. Partridge says he grabbed his 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and fired multiple shots at Smith before fleeing the scene. Partridge admitted to police that Smith never made any attempt to reach for the gun prior to the shooting.

Police say Partridge was apprehended less than 30 minutes later, after Maine State Trooper Sam Tlumac pulled him over in Smithfield. During the traffic stop, according to court documents, Partridge admitted to the trooper he shot Smith. While sitting in Tlumac's cruiser the following conversation took place:

Partridge: "You know what the problem is, I, I tried to Defend myself and I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, if I was doing the right thing and...

Trooper: "Alright."

Partridge: "And I shot the guy."

Trooper: "You shot a guy?"

Partridge: "Yeah, I'm sorry. You don't know either of the guys. My nose is bleeding, I think it's broken."

Trooper: "Yup."

Partridge: "That's what you were chasing me for, right?"

Trooper: "Yup."

Partridge: "I'm going to prison ain't I?"

Trooper: "I don't know yet buddy. I don't even know what happened."

Partridge: "Like I don't even know why he punched me in the face. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Partridge remains at the Kennebec County Jail. Several of his family and friends, including his parents were in the courtroom Monday afternoon.

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