Three-way sex request preceded shooting

GASTONIA, N.C. — Nearly a dozen women sat in court Thursday morning, all wearing shades of purple.

The assembly chose the color to represent Cambria Cannon, a 30-year-old woman gunned down in Gastonia by her lover. Purple was her favorite color.

Venisha Bajja, 26, is on trial for the 2011 killing.

Bajja testified Wednesday and Thursday in the first-degree murder trial. She told the court Thursday morning that she never would’ve intentionally hurt her girlfriend, “Cam.”

“I love her,” Bajja said from the witness stand.

Cannon of Kannapolis had been living with Bajja on Weldon Street, according to Bajja’s testimony. The fatal shooting was the result of a heated argument involving a third woman.

Bajja testified Wednesday that she was intimately involved with both women and that an argument erupted on Feb. 21, 2011 when the trio was drinking together.

Cannon and the other woman, Cecelia Moses, suggested that the three sleep together, Bajja said from the witness stand.

When Bajja refused, Cannon got increasingly angry and that’s when a physical altercation began, Bajja said.

The argument traveled in and out of the house but ultimately ended in the front yard.

Gaston County Assistant District Attorney Debbie Gulledge continually questioned Bajja about her intentions when she went into her house and grabbed the .25-caliber gun.

Bajja said she wasn’t familiar with the gun. Her home had been broken into and she purchased the weapon to protect herself.

Bajja also testified that she slept with the gun under her pillow, something Cannon was unaware of, Bajja testified.

The gun wasn’t loaded to her knowledge, Bajja told Gulledge. Bajja testified that she waved the gun at Cannon to prompt the two women to leave the property.

Cannon was shot in the front yard of the home. She was transported to Gaston Memorial Hospital where she died.

Gastonia Police recovered the murder weapon in Bajja’s closet, though she initially said the incident was a drive-by shooting.

Bajja testified Thursday that she lied because she wanted to get to the hospital to see her girlfriend.

“If it would’ve got me to be with her I would’ve told them anything,” she said.

Jury selection in the trial began Monday morning.

Once Bajja’s testimony concluded about 10 a.m., the defense rested.

Closing arguments are expected to begin before lunch. Once jurors hear from the judge about the decision ahead, they will be handed the verdict sheet to determine if Bajja will spend the rest of her life in prison.

WSOC