Was It Self-Defense Or Anger? -- Final Arguments Heard In Tacoma Slaying

TACOMA - Was Brian Thomas Eggleston trying to save his own life and defending his "own little castle," the morning of Oct. 16, 1995, when he shot Pierce County Deputy John Bananola?

Or was the alleged drug dealer so enraged when deputies entered his home during a narcotics raid that he chased the deputy down the hallway, shooting him nine times, including three times in the head as he lay on the floor?

The jury will determine whether the 25-year-old part-time bartender charged with aggravated murder will go free, be executed or given a life sentence.

Yesterday, defense attorney Monte Hester and prosecutors Lilah Amos and Gerry Horne gave their closing arguments before Judge Thomas McPhee in Pierce County Superior Court.

Attorneys again recounted the scene at the house at 901 E. 52nd St.

It was shortly before 8 a.m. when, acting on a tip from an informant, deputies raided the house, thinking that Eggleston was dealing marijuana and that his brother, Brent, a Pierce County deputy, might be involved. Brent Eggleston later was cleared of any involvement.

Horne contended the fact that Brent lived at the house with Brian and his parents, and parked his patrol car out front, gave the impression his brother's alleged drug operation was safe from police.

But Brent moved out in July of that year. When the raid came three months later, Horne said Brian Eggleston was enraged.

"His brother has moved out and now his (brother's) buddies are coming into his house and searching him. He's mad. He's mad enough to kill," Horne said.

Bananola was the first deputy inside the house.

Hester argued that Eggleston - who was shot several times in the exchange - thought the deputy was an intruder and blamed the department's practice of doing morning drug raids, which may catch residents foggy with sleep, and wearing balaclavas (which hide most of their faces).

Eggleston had been asleep when deputies arrived, and he was confused, Hester said.

Hester said Eggleston never saw the word "sheriff" in fluorescent yellow markings on Bananola's vest.

He maintained he was only acting in self-defense and had never heard the shouts of police when he fired at the deputy in what he said was a dimly lit hallway.

Both Amos and Horne noted that the raid happened in the daylight and that two deputies had overheard Eggleston telling his mother, Linda, to stay in her room and let him handle the situation, contending that the two knew the intruders were deputies.

"John Bananola was unnecessarily killed," Horne said. "But it wasn't a big accident . . . While he lay prone and helpless, Eggleston fired three rounds into his head."