Man Sentenced To 100 Years In Murder Of Livonia Cop
DETROIT (WWJ) - A 49-year-old Detroit man has been sentenced to 100 to 150 years in prison in the shooting death of an undercover police officer.
Terry Bowling was charged in the shooting death of Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil, who was killed last January in a confrontation in Walled Lake that also left Bowling's brother David dead.
Bowling's trial was supposed to begin late last month, but, instead, Bowling opted to plead no contest to second degree murder and home invasion. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.
Nehasil was killed in Walled last January while investigating a series of home invasions. Larry Bowling's brother, David Bowling, was the one who actually fired the fatal shots, before he himself was killed.
The sentence was handed down Wednesday in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Interim Livonia Police Chief Curtis Caid, Officer Nehasil's brother in law spoke with reporters at the courthouse.
"This has obviously been a very, very difficult time leading up to this point," said Caid.
"We are pleased with the judge's ruling and the sentencing here. Obviously, it certainly doesn't bring Larry back. Whether, on the personal end, as a relative of his, or missing him within our police department," he said. "It leaves a huge void that can't be replaced."
In his apology to his own family and that of Officer Nehasil, Bowling said the loss of life is a terrible tragedy and both men will be dearly missed.
A 20-year veteran of the Livonia police force, Nehasil left behind a wife and two sons.
