Victim's Father Butch Bowyer Testifies
TESTIMONY STARTED IN THE CAPITOL MURDER TRIAL INVOLVING THE DEATH OF 12-YEAR-OLD BRETT BOWYER OF PHENIX CITY. ACCUSED KILLER MICHAEL CARRUTH IS ONE OF TWO SUSPECTS. AND RUSSELL COUNTY PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY.
NEWSLEADER NINE'S JASON DENNIS HAS BEEN COVERING THIS CRIME SINCE IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 2002.
THE STATE CALLED FOUR WITNESSES TODAY, THREE OF THEM LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE HOURS OF TESTIMONY.
THE MOUNTAINS OF EVIDENCE INCLUDE GRAPHIC VIDEO OF 12-YEAR-OLD BRETT BOWYER'S AUTOPSY, VIDEO OF THE DEPUTY RESPONDING TO A BLOODY BUTCH BOWYER AND VIDEO OF CARRUTH'S ARREST AND INSIDE HIS CAR.
THE FIRST WITNESS IN THIS TRIAL WAS FORREST "BUTCH" BOWYER, WHO'S THROAT WAS CUT AND SAYS HE WATCHED HIS SON BE KILLED. BUT THE DAY STARTED WITH OPENING ARGUMENTS.
IN FRONT OF A FULL COURTROOM, RUSSELL COUNTY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY TOLD THE STORY OF THE HOME INVASION, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER TO THE SEQUESTERED JURY OF 12 PLUS 2 ALTERNATES.
MICHAEL CARRUTH SHOOK HIS HEAD A FEW TIMES DURING TESTIMONY BY BOWYER, BUT SPENT MOST OF THE DAY TAKING NOTES.
OTHER EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM IS SHOEPRINTS AND A SECURITY TAPE OF HIM BUYING A SHOVEL AT WAL-MART THE DAY BEFORE THE SHALLOW GRAVES WERE DUG.
CARRUTH'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TOLD JURORS, JIMMY LEE BROOKS JUNIOR SHOT AND KILLED BRETT, NOT CARRUTH.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ROBERT LANE EVEN SAID, "AT THE END OF THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CONVICT MIKE CARRUTH. WE CANNOT DISPUTE SOME OF THE FACTS, BUT WE WILL DISPUTE SOME," HINTING ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.
MEANWHILE, BUTCH BOWYER, ON THE STAND, SAID "THEY WERE LAUGHING AND JOKING AND TALKING WHILE WE WERE IN THE GRAVE," EXPLAINING THE SHALLOW GRAVE HE WAS PUT IN.
BOWYER ALMOST BROKE INTO TEARS WHEN HE SAW THE CLOSEUP PICTURE OF HIS SON'S BODY.
AT ONE POINT, HE STOOD UP AND POINTED OUT CARRUTH AS THE MAN WHO SLIT HIS THROAT, THEN SLUNG HIM ON TOP OF HIS SON'S BODY.
THE TRIAL CONTINUES TOMORROW. IT MAY TAKE ALL WEEK AND PART OR ALL OF NEXT WEEK. STAY TUNED TO NEWSLEADER NINE FOR COMPLETE LIVE COVERAGE.
-by Jason Dennis
