Bell murder case continued to Aug. 26

For the second time in as many months, the murder case against a Cape Girardeau man has been continued as a result of a change in attorneys.

Kenneth Bell faces charges of armed criminal action and first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 7 shooting deaths of Shannon James and Misty Cole.

His attorney, assistant public defender Patti Tucka, inherited the case from assistant public defender Michael Sato, who left the area in June to take a position with a public defender's office in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Last month, Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis passed the case to Monday to allow the public defender's office time to appoint someone else to represent Bell.

Tucka requested another continuance Monday so she could review the file, ensure that she has all the relevant information and meet with her client.

According to testimony at a March 7 hearing in front of Judge Gary Kamp, James bumped into Bell on a Cape Girardeau sidewalk, prompting a verbal altercation, before James walked away and went to his apartment at 401 S. Pacific St.

As James and a witness, Argentry Marshall, entered the front of the building, Bell -- who also lived in the building -- came from the back, carrying a semi-automatic handgun, Marshall testified.

Sgt. Don Perry of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said in court that Bell admitted he opened fire when Cole opened the door to let James into the apartment.

Perry said Bell told him he did not know James and Cole by name and had only seen them in the apartment building.

Lewis agreed to continue the case to Aug. 26 to give Tucka time to review it.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 S. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, MO