Prosecution Rests In Bressler Trial

COLORADO SPRINGS – At the El Paso County courthouse Thursday, prosecutors rested their case in the murder trial of Louis Bressler, 25. He’s the former Fort Carson soldier being tried in the murder of Spec. Kevin Shields last December, near 16thand Cucharras Streets.

The last witness called by prosecutors was Colorado Springs Police Detective Derek Graham. He testified about going to Bressler’s apartment to interview him, the day after the shooting.

According to Graham, Bressler–along with co-defendants Kenneth Eastridge and Bruce Bastien, Jr.–said they had been drinking at the downtown bars the night of the murder, and that Bressler was so drunk that he didn’t remember what he did that night. Shields–the victim–also was at the bars celebrating his birthday. Prosecutors allege that Shileds was killed because he knew too much about a robbery thedefendants were planning.All four men served in the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division and returned from a deployment to Iraq prior to the crime.

Graham says although Bressler was cooperative and denied knowledge of the shooting, he later learned from an informant that the defendants dropped Shields off on the west side, and that a fight broke out among the men before Shields was shot three times.

The defense called two witnesses to testify about physical evidence at the crime scene.

Closing arguments are expected Friday afternoon. There’s no indication that Bressler will take the stand in his own defense. Also, prosecutors would not say whether Bastien will be charged with first-degree murder after he broke his plea bargain Wednesday by failing to testify against Bressler. Bastienreceived a 60-year sentence in September on related charges. Eastridgepleaded guilty to accessory to murder and was sentenced to 10 years.

NEWSCHANNEL 13 will continue to track this case for you.