A Lompoc man testified Monday that his wife’s television viewing habits, including Judge Judy and other shows about bad relationships, prompted the fight that ended with Zavian Chappell shooting her and a nephew two years ago.

Chappell, 62, took the stand in his own defense during a Santa Barbara County Superior Court trial in Lompoc. He faces two counts of murder plus sentencing enhancements, including for the use of a firearm, a 9mm handgun.

Lompoc police officers responded at approximately 3 a.m. April 30, 2023, to the 1600 block of West Pine Avenue in Lompoc regarding a domestic-violence incident. 

Police found 59-year-old Cassandra Chappell (also known as Cassandra Butler and Cassandra “CeCe” Sims) dead inside the home. 

A nephew, 29-year-old Tyree Sims McPherson, was found nearby. He had multiple gunshot wounds and died days later at Marian Regional Medical Center. 

On Monday afternoon, defense attorney Megan Leisz questioned Chappell about the incidents leading up to the shooting.

The defendant said his wife watched Judge Judy and similar shows around the clock, adding that he “didn’t like her voice.”

“All my wife would watch is bad relationship shows,” he later said, ticking off some others, including Paternity Court, Snapped and Dateline that left him feeling like he was bombarded.

The night of the shooting, he went to bed about 1 a.m. With his wife sleeping, he sat on the end of the bed and flipped to the show Ridiculousness.

His wife woke up and changed the channel back to Judge Judy, leading Chappell to act in anger. 

“I punched the television,” he said.

Upset that Chappell broke the television, she called 9-1-1. 

The defendant said he called his daughter, Noreona Johnson, who lived out of state.

“She’s my lifeline,” he said, adding that he hoped “Noreona would calm me down.”

At some point, Chappell grabbed a firearm, testifying he felt fearful, and that his wife and nephew blocked any doors for him to leave the house. 

While Chappell is 6 feet 4 inches tall, the nephew outweighed him by 100 pounds, and the defendant said his own health problems made it difficult to confront the younger man. 

Instead, he said, “I fired my way through them.”

“My intent was to scare him,” he said. “I thought I missed.”

A recording during the phone call with his daughter captured some audio of the confrontation and shooting. 

Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Bittner asked Chappell about social media posts expressing his rage, including one directed at his wife, writing, “See if Judy will love you like I did.”

The prosecuting attorney also walked Chappell through the steps he took to get the firearm, including grabbing it from a drawer, removing it from a holster and confronting his wife and nephew before firing the weapon.

She asked whether he emptied the weapon’s magazine while firing at his wife and nephew. 

“I don’t know if I emptied it or not,” he said. 

She also asked about interviews Chappell reportedly did with detectives, including lead investigator Elizabeth Renner, after the shooting.

He said he didn’t recall speaking with detectives, claiming he was incoherent for two weeks after what he called “the incident.”

That led the prosecuting attorney to remark, “That sounds pretty convenient.”

Earlier Monday, Chappell’s daughter testified about being on the phone with her father before and after the shootings occurred.

With Chappell still on the witness stand, testimony is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning in Judge Stephen Foley’s courtroom before a jury of 12 plus four alternates.