State v. David Bass(072669)

In the early morning hours of December 20, 2006, Jessica Shabazz was shot and killed, and James Sinclair was wounded, at a motel in Neptune Township. Defendant David Bass was arrested shortly thereafter. He admitted to police that, prior to the shooting, he had smoked crack cocaine with Shabazz and Sinclair in his motel room, that he and Shabazz had argued over money, and that he shot Shabazz and Sinclair with his handgun. Defendant asserted, however, that he used his weapon in self-defense after Shabazz briefly wrested his gun from him, Sinclair assaulted him, and both attempted to rob him.…