By ROBERT A. CRONKLETON
The Kansas City Star
Found it here : http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15532777.htm
Karl Bowlin of Kansas City, Kan., will stand trial on murder and arson charges for allegedly causing a house fire that killed 8-year-old Jewell Morse, a judge ruled Friday.
Bowlin, 41, is charged with first-degree felony murder and aggravated arson. He also faces a second-degree unintentional murder charge as an alternative to the first-degree charge.
Prosecutors contend that Bowlin threw or aimed fireworks into the basement of a house where Jewell Morse lived at 49 S. 14th St. shortly after 10 p.m. on July 2.
Authorities think the fireworks ignited a flammable solvent, possibly paint thinner, stored there and the fire spread quickly.
Bowlin’s attorney waived formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea for him.
Before ordering Bowlin to stand trial, Wyandotte County District Judge Robert L. Serra called the use of illegal fireworks in Wyandotte County an epidemic, saying it’s a virtual war in the days surrounding the Fourth of July.
He said he hopes this case provides the impetus for Unified Government commissioners to crack down on illegal fireworks.
Defense attorney Dan Cahill said he thinks his client is innocent.
“There are a lot of fireworks that go off in this county over the Fourth of July,� Cahill said. “There were a lot of fireworks going off in that area. He happened to be the closest with fireworks.�
According to testimony at the hearing, a firefighter found Jewell Morse on the kitchen floor of the main level of the house.
Neighborhood children testified that they saw Bowlin, as well as others in the neighborhood, setting off fireworks on July 2.
One 10-year-old girl said she saw Bowlin throw an M-80 toward Jewell’s house. She saw smoke but didn’t know if the house had caught fire.
Because she was a juvenile, Cahill was not able to question her.
Later, however, Cahill challenged her testimony alleging the girl had seen Bowlin from a distance. He said she was not wearing her glasses at the time.
Bowlin remained in the Wyandotte County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond
The Kansas City Star
Found it here : http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15532777.htm
Karl Bowlin of Kansas City, Kan., will stand trial on murder and arson charges for allegedly causing a house fire that killed 8-year-old Jewell Morse, a judge ruled Friday.
Bowlin, 41, is charged with first-degree felony murder and aggravated arson. He also faces a second-degree unintentional murder charge as an alternative to the first-degree charge.
Prosecutors contend that Bowlin threw or aimed fireworks into the basement of a house where Jewell Morse lived at 49 S. 14th St. shortly after 10 p.m. on July 2.
Authorities think the fireworks ignited a flammable solvent, possibly paint thinner, stored there and the fire spread quickly.
Bowlin’s attorney waived formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea for him.
Before ordering Bowlin to stand trial, Wyandotte County District Judge Robert L. Serra called the use of illegal fireworks in Wyandotte County an epidemic, saying it’s a virtual war in the days surrounding the Fourth of July.
He said he hopes this case provides the impetus for Unified Government commissioners to crack down on illegal fireworks.
Defense attorney Dan Cahill said he thinks his client is innocent.
“There are a lot of fireworks that go off in this county over the Fourth of July,� Cahill said. “There were a lot of fireworks going off in that area. He happened to be the closest with fireworks.�
According to testimony at the hearing, a firefighter found Jewell Morse on the kitchen floor of the main level of the house.
Neighborhood children testified that they saw Bowlin, as well as others in the neighborhood, setting off fireworks on July 2.
One 10-year-old girl said she saw Bowlin throw an M-80 toward Jewell’s house. She saw smoke but didn’t know if the house had caught fire.
Because she was a juvenile, Cahill was not able to question her.
Later, however, Cahill challenged her testimony alleging the girl had seen Bowlin from a distance. He said she was not wearing her glasses at the time.
Bowlin remained in the Wyandotte County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond
