A man who witnessed dentist Clara Harris running over her husband in a hotel parking lot was fired the day after he testified in her murder trial, his attorney said.

Evangelos Smiros was food and beverage director at the Nassau Bay Hilton, where he had worked since May 2000, said Smiros' attorney, Chip Lewis.

The lawyer told the Houston Chronicle in Tuesday's editions that the hotel fired Smiros, 43, on Jan. 24 because it fears possible legal action from the Harris family.

Debra Thomas, corporate lawyer for the hotel, told the newspaper the termination "has nothing to do with his testimony" but said she was not at liberty to say why he was fired or to discuss other details.

Smiros was one of the first witnesses in the trial of Harris, who was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for killing her husband, David.

Smiros testified about escorting Clara Harris out of the hotel and to her car on the night of July 24, shortly before she got into her silver Mercedes-Benz and repeatedly ran over her orthodontist husband in the parking lot. Minutes earlier, she had confronted her husband and his mistress in the hotel lobby.

He told jurors that David Harris yelled, "It's over! It's over!" at his wife before she got into her car and "peeled rubber."

Smiros said he chased the car, calling for Clara Harris to stop, but he heard a "thump" and saw her run over her husband three times.

Lewis said his client complied with the hotel's request to have a hotel lawyer accompany him when he gave his statement. He later talked with reporters, however, calling the fatality one of the "most horrific" events he had ever seen, Lewis said.

"He (Smiros) just told the truth and he was fired. This is an abridgment of his First Amendment rights and offensive to be punished for doing his duty," Lewis said.

Smiros said hotel officials indicated he was fired because they believed his moonlighting with an independent catering company was a conflict of interest.

"Other employees before and since then have done the same and they have not been fired," Lewis said.

Clara Harris was sentenced on her 11th wedding anniversary.

She will be eligible for parole in 10 years.

Previous Stories:

• February 17, 2003: Clara Harris Says She Still Loves Her Dead Husband
• February 14, 2003: Jurors Send Clara Harris To Prison
• February 14, 2003: Jury Considers Punishment For Clara Harris
• February 13, 2003: Clara Harris Guilty, Sentencing Begins
• February 12, 2003: Jurors Deliberate Clara Harris Case
• February 12, 2003: Jurors Set To Begin Deliberations In Clara Harris Case
• February 11, 2003: Closing Arguments Wednesday In Harris Trial
• February 11, 2003: Jurors Told To Bring Toothbrushes In Clara Harris Trial
• February 10, 2003: Defense Rests In Clara Harris Trial
• February 10, 2003: Clara Harris Retakes Stand
• February 7, 2003: Harris: Didn't Mean To Run Over Husband
• February 5, 2003: Clara Harris' Attorney Collapses Outside Courtroom
• February 4, 2003: Harris' Lover Testifies About Relationship
• February 4, 2003: Defense Goes After Victim In Clara Harris Case
• January 31, 2003: Collision Expert Testifies About Harris' Death
• January 30, 2003: Accusations Fly After Harris Daughter Testifies
• January 30, 2003: State Rests In Clara Harris Case
• January 29, 2003: Harris' Daughter Testifies: 'She Meant To Kill Him'
• January 29, 2003: Stepdaughter To Testify In Clara Harris' Trial
• January 28, 2003: Harris Cries Uncontrollably, Removed From Trial
• January 27, 2003: Private Investigator Testifies In Clara Harris Trial
• January 27, 2003: Clara Harris Trial Enters Second Week
• January 23, 2003: Witnesses Describe Harris Running Over Husband
• January 22, 2003: Jury Seated In Clara Harris Trial
• January 22, 2003: Jury Selection Continues In Harris' Murder Trial
• January 21, 2003: Jurors To Be Picked For Clara Harris' Trial
• January 16, 2003: Harris' Stepdaughter's Remarks Spark Debate
• November 19, 2002: Audiotapes Allege Clara Harris Also Having Affair
• November 1, 2002: Harris Featured In Magazine Article
• October 18, 2002: Clara Harris Pleads Not Guilty
• October 10, 2002: Grand Jury Indicts Clara Harris
• September 18, 2002: Custody Battle Stems From High-Profile Murder
• August 23, 2002: Clara Harris' Murder Trial Set
• August 2, 2002: Slain Orthodontist's Daughter Files Suit
• July 31, 2002: P.I. Turns Over Video Of Dentist's Death
• July 29, 2002: Judge: Dentist To Remain Free
• July 26, 2002: Wife Free After Allegedly Running Over Husband
• July 25, 2002: Police: Wife Runs Over Cheating Husband