Gun charge to be filed in Barrett murder case

BENTONVILLE — Prosecutors will file a gun-enhancement charge against Roger Dale Barrett in the shooting death of his former girlfriend.

Barrett, 50, is charged with capital murder. He's accused of killing Eunice "Yogi" Bradley during an August 2000 altercation at Barrett's Cave Springs Home.

Bradley was shot in the chest and died from the gunshot wound. Her body was later found burning in a brush fire near Highfill.

Investigators arrested Barrett a few days after the discovery of the body.

Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone informed the courtThursday of his intentions to file a gun-enhancement charge against Barrett.

If convicted of the felony and the jury finds Barrett used a firearm, the panel could recommend a sentence for Barrett of up to an additional 15 years in prison.

Last month, divers recovered from a pond on Hendrix Road the .22 caliber gun that prosecutors believe was used to kill Bradley.

During Thursday's hearing, Stone and Barrett's attorney, Joel Huggins, told Circuit Judge David Clinger that the two are still researching the issue of when a victim's alleged prior acts of aggression, if any, toward a defendant are admissible at trial, if the defendant asserts the defense of selfdefense.

Huggins claims the shooting was in self-defense.

According to court documents, Huggins claims that Barrett and Bradley were drinking and got into an argument. Bradley ended up reaching for Barrett's pistol. In an effort to protect himself and to prevent Bradley from harming herself, Barrett reached for the gun, and the two struggled over the gun, according to court documents.

The attorneys are also still researching the issue of under what circumstances a juror can have knowledge of a defendant's prior trial and still be qualified to sit on the jury.

In July 2001, a jury found Barrett guilty of capital murder in Bradley's death, and he was sentenced to life in prison.

In Oct. 2006, then Circuit Judge Tom Keith granted Barrett a new trial. Keith found that Barrett's former attorney, John Gross, did such a poor job of defending Barrett that it prevented him from receiving a fair trial.

Almost a year later, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld Keith's decision and granted Barrett a new trial.

Barrett is free on $150,000 bond.