Judge Rules Statements Admissible In Livonia Cop's Death
PONTIAC (WWJ) - A judge says statements given by a suspect in the shooting death of a Livonia police officer are admissible in court.
Attorney Randy Lewis argued that his client, 49-year-old Terry Bowling, was not properly Mirandized after Bowling's arrest during a home invasion that resulted in the death of Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil.
WWJ's Stephanie Davis was at the Oakland County Circuit Court following the ruling by Judge Michael Warren, who said Bowling's constitutional rights were not violated and that statements he gave were given voluntarily to officers after waiving his rights.
Bowling's attorney had argued that on three separate occasions Bowling was not read his Miranda rights, including one time when an officer questioned him in a car on the way to court.
Judge Warren also ruled that Bowling's prior crimes can be admitted, but with prior instruction to the jury. Lewis said this is significant.
"A person deserves to be judged and to be tried on what they're accused of in this case and not other alleged bad acts," he said.
Investigators say Officer Nehasil was killed in a shootout after catching Bowling and his brother David allegedly robbing a Walled Lake home back in January. In return gunfire, Officer Nehasil killed David Bowling.
Bowling faces charges including felony murder, home invasion and resisting a police officer. His trial is set to start late this month.
