The criminal homicide trial of an East Petersburg man accused of killing a York County woman to prevent her from testifying against him has been pushed back until next month. The killing occurred just days before Dowling was to stand trial for robbing and sexually assaulting the mother of 2 at her former Manchester Township store in August 1996. Prosecutors are seeking a first-degree murder conviction and a death sentence for Dowling, a father of 3 and former convenience store manager. The defendant was convicted in April of the robbery and sexual assault charges and was sentenced to 9 to 18 years in state prison by York County Judge Sheryl Ann Dorney, who also is presiding over his homicide trial. Jurors for the homicide trial are being chosen from Bucks County because of the publicity the case has generated in York, Lancaster and surrounding communities.
Jury selection is ongoing.
This summer, Dowling, who has been held at York County Prison since his arrest 9 days after the murder, fired the 2 attorneys who represented him in the robbery and sexual assault trial and asked the judge for permission to represent himself in the homicide case. He has since been appointed a new lawyer, Gerald Lord. Dowling has steadfastly maintained his innocence in both cases. At his preliminary hearing for the homicide charge in December 1997, several witnesses testified seeing Dowling and his car near the frame shop on the day of the killing. The victim was found on the floor of her shop with a single gunshot wound to the head.