Man found guilty of killing his brother

A Duarte man was found guilty Friday of killing his brother and leaving his body outside the Rose Bowl in a case the prosecutor described as a modern-day twist on the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel.

A Pasadena courthouse jury of seven women and five men took less than a day to find that Clifton Cass, 57, shot his brother Victor in the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2011, in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl. Prosecutors argued the crime was fueled by disagreements over drugs, money and treatment of the brothers’ mother.

Victor Cass was struck by three bullets, including two on the right side of his face. He also suffered cuts on his neck and left shoulder. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Debra Archuleta said the neck wound was a result of a botched attempt at a beheading.

“Clifton Cass takes the law and matter into his own hands as he prepares for the execution of his brother,” Archuleta said during her closing argument Thursday.

“Clifton Cass has decided to be the judge, jury and executioner of his own flesh and blood.”

Earlier on Thursday Cass, who had prior convictions for battery on a police officer and armed robbery, took the stand and engaged in a strained and sometimes confrontational exchange with Archuleta.

“I live in a different world, growing up in an environment [where] the deck is kind of stacked against you, so naturally we commit crimes,” Cass said.

Wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and sporting a graying handlebar mustache, he said, “I’m a gangster. Over the years I’ve proven myself to be loyal to the code of the streets.”

During the trial Cass’ long-time girlfriend, another friend and his brother Gregory testified against him.

His lawyer, William Jacobson, called their testimony unreliable. He told the jury Gregory Cass tried to get a plea deal for a shoplifting charge in exchange for his testimony.

Jacobson also contended that Dwayne Sims, a friend of Cass who is charged as an accessory to Victor Cass’ murder for attempting to dispose of the .38 caliber gun used in the case, committed the homicide.

Sims’ DNA was found on the gun and on the knives used to cut Victor Cass.

“My guess is he found a way to become a sympathetic player in this drama. He found a way out,” Jacobson said.

The victim’s daughter, Chelsea Cass, was in court Thursday. She said the tension between the brothers was over more than a comment Victor Cass made about their mother.

“It goes much deeper than that,” she said. Victor Cass, she said, “had other issues and it was most likely drugs or money.”

Clifton Cass showed no emotion as the verdict was entered Friday afternoon. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 14.