Opinion ID: 1772836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: bowen's testimony

Text: Bowen and Mills had been dating for about two weeks before Ratliff was murdered. According to Bowen, Mills hatched the plan to rob Ratliff. She testified that on the night of the murder, she and Mills drove by Ratliff's house. Once there, Mills let her out of the car and she went to Ratliff's house with a story about car trouble. After hearing Bowen's tale of woe, Ratliff volunteered to give her a ride. Per Mills' instructions, Bowen directed Ratliff to where Mills and the disabled car were. Mills was under the hood of the car when they arrived. Mills then got into Ratliff's truck and the three of them drove away. Sometime later, Mills told Ratliff to stop the truck and pulled out a pistol, which he aimed at Ratliff. Apparently, Ratliff did not take the threat seriously. He tried to swat the gun away from Mills. Ratliff and Mills then began to fight. Bowen, while attempting to help Mills, accidently struck him instead of Ratliff. During the fight, a knife fell out of Mills' pocket and landed in the truck's floorboard. Mills told Bowen to retrieve it. While she was retrieving the knife, Mills shot Ratliff because he was going to run. Mills and Bowen searched Ratliff and found two billfolds, which held substantial amounts of cash. The two tossed Ratliff in the back of the truck and drove to the abandoned strip mine, with Mills driving the truck and Bowen driving the car. Once there, they placed Ratliff in the driver's seat of the truck. Mills told Bowen to stab Ratliff, which she did. Mills set the truck on fire and they fled the scene. They went to Mills' sister's house to clean up and count the money. Later, they burned their clothes and disposed of the knife and gun. Bowen, on her own, set her car afire in an attempt to destroy evidence.