 |
| ||||||
Text Size 
• Email • Printer Friendly
|
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 4:42 PM Bowling's defense attorneys say Vincent had a "fatal attraction" and acted alone By Antonio Velarde | Times Staff Writer GREENVILLE - Defense attorneys and prosecutors today made their opening statements in the murder trial of former Rocky Mount funeral home director Mark Bowling, who is accused of orchestrating the murder of his wife in 2006. Bowling, who owned Bowling Funerals and Cremations in Rocky Mount, is accused of plotting with Rose Deloris Parker Vincent, 27, of Middlesex, to kill his wife, Julie, who was shot to death in the garage of the Bowlings' River Glenn home Dec. 8, 2006. But during opening statements, which began shortly after 2 p.m. today, defense attorney Tommy Moore said the evidence presented during the trial would show that Vincent acted alone in murdering Julie Bowling. Moore, who pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, was given a lesser sentence and spared the death penalty. Bowling was also spared the death penalty by prosecutors in August and now faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Bowling is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and accessory before the fact to commit first-degree murder. A solicitation charge is not being included. Moore said Vincent was given a "sweetheart deal so they can come in here and get the big fish." He said evidence would show she acted of her own volition in murdering Julie Bowling so she could be with Mark Bowling. "This was a fatal attraction, and Rose and Rose only killed Julie," Moore told the jurors and alternates. Nash County Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner, speaking before Moore, gave jurors a timeline of events leading up to Julie Bowling's death. He said the evidence would show that Bowling pushed Vincent to kill Julie Bowling on various occasions including Dec. 8, 2006. He said Vincent will be testifying against Bowling in the case. "In order to prove the conspiracy, you have to have some of the conspirators testify," Werner said. After opening statements, a Nash County medical official and a co-worker of Julie Bowling testified. Bowling, who had shown little emotion prior to today during the trial, broke down in tears briefly as a medical official showed and described to jurors several photographs taken from the murder scene, showing gunshot wounds to Julie Bowling's body. The jury of 12, and 3 alternates, was officially seated shortly after 2 p.m. today after being selected Monday, Tuesday and earlier this morning. Several pre-trial motions were heard in court earlier that morning, with Nash County Superior Court Judge Quentin Sumner approving a request by defense attorneys for Bowling to be tried separately for solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Sumner also approved a motion by defense attorneys for a civil dispute to not be included in the case as evidence. He denied a motion by defense attorneys to bar a witness from testifying in the trial. |
| Add Comment: | |  | | (All comments must be approved) |
| View Comments: | | | | (0 comments) |
Most Popular
 |
 |
 |
