Trial begins for Shawnee man accused of road-rage shooting

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- An attorney for a Shawnee man accused in a road-rage killing says his client suffers from mental illness.<br/><br/>David Tarrance Burton is on trial in Cleveland County District Court

Wednesday, May 18th 2005, 5:48 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- An attorney for a Shawnee man accused in a road-rage killing says his client suffers from mental illness.

David Tarrance Burton is on trial in Cleveland County District Court on a first-degree murder charge. He's accused in the February 25th shooting death of Timothy James Moore of Bethany.

In an opening statement Tuesday, defense attorney Stephen Parker told a jury of seven men and five women that Burton has a 30-year history of mental illness.

Parker says Burton's perception of Moore as a threat led to the killing.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Sitzman told jurors evidence will show Burton shot Moore in cold blood at a stoplight.