By Tom Blakey

Transcript Staff Writer

Jurors in District Judge Bill Hetherington’s courtroom listened intently Tuesday morning as prosecutors in the first-degree murder trial of Kristopher Morphew played portions of a taped conversation between Morphew and one of the first police officers to reach the scene of the slaying Dec. 3, 2004.

Morphew, 24, of Elmore City, is accused of intentionally shooting and killing Adam Baker, 23, at the apartment the men shared in the 1100 block of Biloxi Avenue.

The audio tape was recorded by Master Police Officer Charles “Chuck” Daily, a Norman patrol officer of 19 years, who said he carried the cassette player in his pocket to record “potential evidentiary” interactions at crime scenes.

Daily testified, upon his arrival, that Morphew was outside the second-story apartment, “rolling around on the ground, crying.”

Daily said he went inside the apartment while another officer stayed with Morphew. Once inside, Daily said he saw Baker, covered in blood, sitting on a small sofa with a “large, gaping wound to his head.” The slug from the .44 caliber Smith and Wesson had entered Baker’s right forehead, and made a large exit wound in the back of his head, testimony revealed.

After securing the apartment, Daily said, he went back outside and talked with Morphew, asking him what had happened.

On the tape, Morphew said Baker and he were sitting around, listening to music, when Morphew got up and began walking to the bathroom to take a shower.

He said Baker was playing with the gun, as Baker often did, when he pointed it at Morphew.

“I told him, ‘Dude don’t play like that — I think it’s loaded,’” Morphew said.

He said Baker replied, “No it’s not, I’ll show you.”

Baker pointed the gun at himself and pulled the trigger, Morphew said.

In showing the officer how Baker was holding the gun, Morphew first extended his arm and, holding the gun level, twisted his wrist back toward himself. Morphew then turned the gun upside down, with its butt in the air, which offered more room between the barrel and the shooter’s head, Daily testified.

After the shooting, Morphew ran from the apartment, screaming and asking a neighbor to call 911, according to testimony.