Murder charge against Broseley man dismissed

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The state dismissed charges against a Broseley, Missouri, man in connection with the April shooting death of another man inside a Cynthia Street apartment.

The case was "dismissed because of insufficient evidence in that Walter (Lee) Currie (Jr.) appeared to be acting in self-defense," said Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher, who dismissed the charge Monday, the same day the 21-year-old was supposed to appear for a preliminary hearing.

Currie had been charged with felony second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was accused of causing the April 17 death of Donald Perry, 38, of Sedgewickville, Missouri.

"The victim and Patricia Bales decided they were going to scare Walter Currie, so they lured Walter Currie into the house, where the victim pulled a shotgun on Walter Currie," Oesterreicher said.

Currie, he said, was told to "get on the floor. Instead of getting on the floor, Walter Currie pulled a gun and began shooting Mr. Perry."

Perry was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and later died.

Bales, of the 500 block of Cynthia Street, remains charged in connection with Perry's death. The 24-year-old is charged with second-degree murder.

Bales, according to Oesterreicher, is charged with felony murder because Perry "died in the commission of another felony; the felony is pointing the shotgun at Walter Currie."

Pertinent address:

Cynthia Street, Poplar Bluff, Mo.