Attorneys vet potential jurors

GREENVILLE – Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of former Rocky Mount mortician Mark Bowling, with the judge warning prospective jurors to ignore all past and future media coverage of the highly publicized case.

Prosecutors and Bowling defense attorneys began questioning jurors around midday, weeding through a few residents who had read newspaper articles about the case and at least one who recognized Bowling from his funeral services. Most of the potential jurors, though, said they had no knowledge of the case.

None of the potential jurors said they had any preconceived doubts about Bowling's innocence.

Bowling, 37, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of his 45-year-old wife, Julie Bowling, who was gunned down on Dec. 8, 2006, in her garage on River Glenn.

Rose Vincent, Bowling's alleged mistress, pleaded guilty in February to shooting Julie Bowling and pointed to Mark Bowling as the man who orchestrated the slaying. In a written confession, Vincent said Bowling arranged for the murder and told her killing his wife was "the only way (the two) could be together."

Vincent, 28, was given softer charges and sentencing in exchange for her future testimony against Bowling. Vincent is serving a minimum 29-year sentence.

The trial was moved to Pitt County after Bowling's defense team of Tommy Moore and Tom Sallenger argued earlier this year that sensational media coverage in the Telegram and other news outlets would "undoubtedly" make a fair trial in Nash County "impossible."

Through the beginning stages of jury selection Monday, jurors' previous knowledge of the case didn't pose a major problem.

N.C. Superior Court Judge Quentin Sumner provided potential jurors with a list of all the witnesses to be called to the stand by both the defense and prosecution. Although court officials would not share the witness names publicly, Sumner told the jurors that the list was "quite long." It took jurors more than a couple minutes to read through the names.

The sizeable witness list seems to indicate a potentially lengthy trial, but citing a gag order issued over the case earlier this year, court officials will not comment on the matter.

Because of limited space, family and otherwise interested members of the public were restricted from entering the courtroom early in the day during juror orientation.

During a morning break in court, Bowling seemed to deflect his emotions as he signaled through a window to family waiting in the lobby outside the courtroom. Holding his thin-rimmed glasses to his side, Bowling nodded toward his supporters and silently mouthed, "I'm OK," before wiping tears from his eyes.

Bowling has been held in Central Prison in Raleigh for nearly two years awaiting trial. He faces a potential life sentence if convicted.

The jury selection process is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.