Sentencing phase of Kenneth Barrett's trial continues

Monday, November 14th 2005, 6:39 am

By: News On 6

A federal jury in Muskogee will hear arguments on whether Kenneth Barrett should put to death for murdering Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Rocky Eales. This follows a week of emotional testimony from the trooper's family.

6 in the Morning reporter Omar Villafranca says the same federal jury convicted Kenneth Barrett last week for the shooting death of Rocky Eales.

The trooper's wife took the stand and talked about the pain suffered by the loss. Eales was a 20-year veteran of the OHP. He was shot to death six years ago during a drug raid on Kenneth Barrett's home. During testimony on Thursday, Kelli Eales fought with her emotions and said quote "I hurt so bad inside, no words can express."

But some of the most powerful testimony came from the daughter and son Eales left behind. Allison Eales was only six when her dad died, but an essay she wrote was read to the jury that said " in death (her father) taught her courage." She added, "I'm thankful my dad showed me enough love in six and a half years to last my whole life."

Barrett is already serving time for manslaughter in state prison for killing Eales. Kelli Eales says she's not happy with that sentence, because she says Barrett showed no remorse for the murder.