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Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:45 AM Jury selection begins in Bowling trial By Antonio Velarde | Times Staff Writer GREENVILLE -- Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Mark Bowling, a 37-year-old former Rocky Mount funeral director accused of planning the murder of his wife in 2006. Bowling, who owned Bowling Funerals and Cremations in Rocky Mount, is charged with planning the murder of his wife, Julie Bowling, who was shot to death in the garage of their River Glenn home on Dec. 8, 2006. Bowling and Rose Deloris Parker Vincent, 27, of Middlesex, his alleged mistress, were arrested the next day and charged with first-degree murder. Vincent pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, which court records indicate saved her from the death penalty. Bowling was also spared the death penalty Aug. 29, when Nash County Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner announced the state wouldn't seek it. Bowling is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder and accessory before the fact to first-degree murder. During the jury selection Monday, the initial pool of potential jurors were sworn in or affirmed and then divided into five separate panels. From the panels, groups of 12 were called for questioning by Nash County Superior Court Judge Quentin Sumner and members of the prosecution and defense teams. As of early afternoon Monday, only 12 potential jurors had been questioned by Sumner and Nash County Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner. Sumner asked the potential jurors if they knew the defendant, the defense lawyers or any members of the prosecution team, and if they knew anyone from lists of potential witnesses they were asked to review. He also asked if they had read media coverage of Bowling's arrest leading up to the trial. Werner asked jurors if they had ever committed a crime, been a victim of a crime or if they had ever known a close relative or friend who was a crime victim. One juror questioned said she had been serviced by a funeral home owned by Bowling when a relative died. During the Monday jury selections, members of media were restricted in their coverage of the courtroom proceedings, with restrictions on the number of cameras and video devices allowed into the courtroom, among other things. Members of the media covered the proceedings from a galley area near the back of the courtroom. As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, no jurors had been chosen and the jury selection process was still unfinished. Sumner, who has presided over earlier proceedings, had previously approved a gag order in January that prevents anyone involved in the case from talking with the media. Bowling's trial is being held in Greenville, instead of Nashville, because his attorneys argued he could not get a fair trial in Nash County. Bowling, who is being represented by Tommy Moore of Rocky Mount and Tom Sallenger of Wilson, faces life in prison without parole if he is found guilty. avelarde@wilsontimes.com | 265-7868 |
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