Federal jury recesses in sentencing trial of OHP trooper killer

The wife of a murdered Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper took the stand Thursday in the killer's sentencing trial. A federal jury convicted Kenneth Barrett last week in the 1999 shooting death of Rocky

Thursday, November 10th 2005, 6:18 am

By: News On 6

The wife of a murdered Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper took the stand Thursday in the killer's sentencing trial. A federal jury convicted Kenneth Barrett last week in the 1999 shooting death of Rocky Eales. Now they will decide, if he will die for his crimes.

News on 6 reporter Ashli Sims says the Eales family and friends gave emotional testimony Thursday about their loss. Rocky Eales was shot to death six years ago, but his family and friends told a federal jury charged with sentencing Eales killer that they still very much feel the loss.

During her emotional and often tearful testimony, Kelli Eales said quote "I hurt so bad inside, no words can express." Eales was a 20-year veteran of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He was killed in September of 1999 during a drug raid on Kenneth Barrett's home. Barrett was recently convicted of murder in federal court, that jury will now decide if he will die for his crime.

Dozens of troopers from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol attended Rocky Eales' funeral, several are also attending the trial of his killer and one took the stand. Jean Hise was there the day Rocky Eales was killed and he tried to save his friend's life. Hise told the jury that when Rocky died, he lost a part of himself and his world was crushed. He also said after the shooting he suffered from post-traumatic stress.

Eales not only left behind his brothers in the law, but also a wife and two small children. His daughter was six years old, his son only two, when he died.

Kelli Eales told the jury her husband's boots are still at the back door, his clothes still in the closet. She said her young son told her once he wanted to die, so that he could go to heaven and see his father. Kelli also read from an essay her now 12-year-old daughter wrote about her father. Allison Eales wrote that "in death (her father) taught her courage." She went on to say "I'm thankful my dad showed me enough love in six and a half years to last my whole life."

Kenneth Barrett is already serving a 30-year sentence in state prison for manslaughter, but Kelli Eales says she wasn't happy with that punishment, because she says Barrett shows no remorse and he has never apologized.

The defense will begin presenting their case next Monday.