Man gets 40 years in death of roommate

Man gets 40 years in death of roommate

Dec. 14, 2000

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

A man convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his roommate in January in Cortez has been sentenced to serve 40 years in prison.

The district attorney’s office reported that on Monday, Bradley Scott Cassels, 46, was handed the substantial sentence by District Judge Sharon Hanson.

Due to aggravating factors involved in the violent crime, Hanson added 16 years to the 24-year maximum allowed under sentencing parameters for second-degree murder, said District Attorney Mike Green on Tuesday.

Following an alcohol-fueled argument, Cassels shot 38-year old Greg Allan Morris nine times, five times in the back, with his 9mm handgun at their shared apartment at 111 N. Piñon Drive. He then called police and surrendered.

During court testimony, Cassels said that Morris "was like a wild man" who instigated the fight and threatened to "kick my ass" and "put me in the hospital." According to his testimony, the incident began after Morris burst into the bathroom where Cassels was showering and declared, "We have to fight."

Cassels left the shower and said he did not want to fight, but Morris continued to push and shove him, Cassels testified. At that point he went to his room, obtained his gun and the "next thing I remember the gun was empty. . . I was looking over Greg and thinking, ‘Oh, my God — I shot Greg."

Both men were intoxicated. A post-mortem showed Morris’ blood-alcohol content was .288. Cassels, who testified to having drunk nearly two quarts of beer shortly before the killing, registered a .94 BAC.

Cassels testified that he did not intend to shoot his roommate, believing that once Morris saw the gun he would leave him alone so he could get dressed and leave the apartment.

But Green described Cassels as showing no remorse for the crime until he realized he was going to jail, and said the numerous shots in the back made it hard to believe that Morris posed a threat to Cassels.

"There was no self-defense, there was no reason to shoot him," Green said. "I feel the sentence was appropriate and agree that there were aggravated circumstances warranting the extra years.

"(Cassels) could have left the apartment earlier or locked himself in his room to get away from the situation."

Cassels’ defense attorney, Pam Brown, had argued that the shooting occurred in the heat of passion and was provoked by Morris’ frequent criticism of Cassels. Neighbors said Cassels was the nicer of the two men, according to Brown, who also argued that alcohol impeded Cassels’ ability to think clearly.

According to witnesses who testified at the trial, Morris was not happy with the living situation and wanted Cassels to find a new place to live. Tension had been building for some time between the two men, according to witnesses.

Cassels could be up for parole in 15 years, Green said.