Jeffrey Sterling takes the stand in his murder trial

Jeffrey Sterling, the Blue Springs man accused of shooting and killing another man in November 2008 took the stand Wednesday, telling the court that he pulled out his gun and started shooting to protect himself.

Sterling, 40, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Jerry Thompson, 43, who was supervising construction of his home on Nov. 24, 2008. The home was off Colbern Road south of Blue Springs. Sterling said Thompson owed him $1,100.

Sterling testified Wednesday that he left his home that morning with a .45 caliber pistol, two magazines with 13 rounds each and related accessories. Insisting that the matter wasn’t about the money, Sterling told the court numerous times that he planned on killing himself if he couldn’t get what was owed to him.

He told prosecutors that he hoped he would be meeting the “good” or “nice” Jerry when he got there. He said Thompson told him that if he was man enough he’d come get his money.

Sterling admitted to having stuffed the pistol down the back of his pants and covering it with his shirt. When asked why he brought the gun when he got out of his truck if he was planning on possibly killing himself afterward, Sterling thought for a moment and explained that the weapon had to be on his person even out of the car.

“I thought there could be the possibility of a confrontation,” Sterling said, describing that Thompson had told him about the fights he’d gotten into at bars, where he beat people up. Sterling said that didn’t worry him.

Asked why he didn’t leave when he realized he wasn’t going to be paid, Sterling said, “I felt I had to explain to him why I should be paid.” At another point in his testimony, he said, “I was busy talking to God.”

Sterling described Thompson’s face as becoming red after he threatened to beat Sterling to death. He said neither took his eyes off the other, and when Thompson reached into the bed of his truck, Sterling took out his gun and started shooting. In the end, five shots were fired – the fatal shot striking Thompson in the back of the head.

“All I wanted to do was get away,” Sterling said.

Driving to Lake Jacomo to the area where he and his wife had been married, Sterling called family members and friends.

The court heard 911 tapes where he could be heard laughing. When a police officer said authorities needed to speak to him, Sterling said, “You need to do more than talk to me.”

Sterling was taken into custody by police shortly after.

A note in his car, which Sterling said Wednesday that he had written the morning of the shooting, read that if he didn’t get the money, “then you will know by now what I had planned.”

Much of Wenesday’s trial was devoted to ballistic and forensic evidence.

Defense attorney Matt O’Connor questioned a number of the decisions made during the initial investigation, specifically why police did not take an inventory of the numerous vehicles on the property or why witnesses (three men and some painters) were permitted to go to lunch before going to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for formal statements.

Detective Sgt. Doug Caster testified that he asked for witnesses to be taken to the department for questioning, “but they went to lunch.”

Several photographs were shown Wednesday, including areas of the home where bullets had struck.

Five bullet casings were found on the property, according to Caster, and a bullet was discovered in a garage door. Four bullets were recovered and eight bullet holes were found.

But before investigators arrived on the scene, an unknown person opened the garage door before photographs could be taken.

O’Connor also asked about a shell casing that was found on the ground where Thompson’s body had fallen. Caster said the casing would have been damaged had a vehicle tire driven over it.

O’Conner asked Caster if “bullets went everywhere,” to which Caster said, “To a degree.”

 The trial resumes today before Judge Marco Roldan.