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Guardsman’s murder trial begins

BARDWELL, Ky. — The trial of an Iraq war veteran charged with killing a fellow Kentucky National Guardsman is under way in a western Kentucky courtroom.

Nineteen-year-old Cody Morris is charged with murder, wanton endangerment and evidence tampering in the shooting death last October of fellow guardsman, 18-year-old Casey Lee Hall, who had just returned from boot camp.

The Paducah Sun reports that jury selection and opening statements were finished by noon Monday in Carlisle Circuit Court and testimony was to begin later in the day.

Prosecutor Mike Stacy said in opening statements that the shooting was not an accident and that Morris had pointed the gun at Hall and pulled the trigger.

Defense attorney Mark Bryant called the shooting a terrible tragedy and said a third person, Cory Adams, had been trying to take a handgun away from Morris when it discharged, striking Hall.

Bryant also noted that Morris suffers from post-traumatic disorder after serving in Iraq.