Opinion ID: 4150102
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Brenda Bowens

Text: To support her crack addiction, Bowens worked as a prostitute in the area of 20th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Slaughter, whom she knew as “Muk,” and Johnson, whom she knew as “Juice,” were her drug dealers. R.647. She testified that she had known Johnson for “five, six years,” and Slaughter for “ten, twelve.” R.647. In fact, she “would see them every day” because she “always bought crack from them.” R.647–48. On the morning of the murder, Bowens reported being solicited by a man near the intersection of 20th and Cecil B. Moore. She declined because she intended to go into a nearby house to get high.2 She crossed the street and reported the encounter to Slaughter and Johnson, who were walking up 2 At least two houses on the street functioned as crack houses, including the house in which Bowens testified she intended to get high. There was some indication that Johnson and Slaughter sold drugs from these houses also, and that Bowens and Williams, as well as others, would buy their drugs from there. We note that while defense counsel objected to some of these questions concerning the nature of those houses, other testimony regarding the houses was admitted into evidence. 5 Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Bowens then continued to an allnight convenience store around the corner. Upon her return shortly after, she saw the same car that had solicited her before. As she approached the house, she “turned around” and “[saw] Muk and Juice. Muk’s standing on the driver’s side; Juice was on the other side, the passenger[’s] side.” R.632. She testified that Johnson was “leaning in the car.” R.689. She stated: I didn’t “see” it happen, but I saw flashes and I heard a gunshot, and immediately I ran, because that’s what I do. When you see two neighborhood drug dealing guys, you run, because, you know. I don’t have to go into detail. But I ran and started banging on the door, [saying] “Let me the hell in.” R.633. While banging on the door to be let in, she “glanced” behind her to “make sure that [she] was . . . out of harm’s way.” R.633. She then “heard another shot” and saw the “flash again.” R.633. She testified that Johnson, at that point, was still standing at the passenger’s side door. She then finally was able to enter the house. At trial, the prosecutor reviewed the entire episode using a demonstrative map of the intersection. Bowens identified the house she intended to smoke in as well as where other events occurred. Bowens also addressed her failure to come forward to the police initially: Q. . . . When you went the second time to Homicide, after they’re talking to you and you 6 told them what you saw, what caused you to tell them that you saw this? What happened? ... A. I was saying that my family was real concerned that I was in danger, someone was going to kill me and that I needed help. R.643–44. On cross-examination, Bowens was impeached with her “severe drug habit,” R.655, and criminal history. Bowens admitted to a prior conviction (for which she was sentenced to eleven-and-a-half to twenty-three months in jail), to being on probation, and to having a bench warrant out for her arrest when she gave her statement. She was also impeached with her failure to report what she saw to the police and her initial refusal to give a statement after she was picked up for questioning. Bowens disclosed that, during these interrogations, she was “promised” that she would be given help with her drug addiction.3 R.663. Bowens’s perception of the shooting was also impeached. While Bowens reported seeing Johnson leaning into Flomo’s car, she did not see anything in his hands. Bowens admitted that she only glanced in the direction of the shooting for what defense counsel characterized as a “minisecond . . . a flash.” R.687. Defense counsel also impeached her with her prior inconsistent statements about the exact location of Flomo’s car in the intersection when the shooting occurred. Finally, the distance between the shooting and the 3 This help came by way of a voluntary prosecution and commitment to a drug rehabilitation program. 7 crack house Bowens attempted to enter (and in the vicinity of which Bowens reportedly saw the shooting) was, defense counsel urged in his closing, approximately 600 feet.4 On re-direct, the prosecutor attempted to rehabilitate Bowens on a number of points. He reviewed Bowens’s identification of Johnson again: Q. In terms of that car, and counsel has asked you where the car was back and forth. When you see the shooting, are you concentrating on where the car is? A. No, not at all. Q. What are you concentrating on? A. Me getting away. Q. And did you recognize the guys who did it? A. Yes Q. And who are they? A. Juice and Muk. Q. And is Juice here now? A. Yes, sir. ... Q. Point to Juice. A. Right there (indicating) Q. No doubt in your mind it was them, right? ... A. That’s a hard question. It was so many years ago, and I done been through so much, sir. I’m 4 At trial, the jury was presented with a map of the area. The prosecutor said during his closing that, “It’s not 600 feet. Take the measurement. It’s about 300 and something.” R.1215. 8 really honestly going to say that I am not really sure. I’m really honestly going to say that I’m not really sure. I been through so fucking much. I been through so much. Q. And I know you’ve been through – Brenda, listen to me – [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, may we have a break at this point? [PROSECUTOR]: Look at me. No. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Excuse me. I’m asking the Court. THE COURT: No. Well, let me see. Are you all right? You all right? (Witness crying.) [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, perhaps we should take a break. THE COURT: We’re going to take a break. R.727–29. After a brief recess, Bowens testified that she was “very tired,” and agreed with the prosecutor that she was “emotionally drained” and “want[ed] to get this over with.” R.731. She continued, however, and testified again that Slaughter and Johnson stood next to Flomo’s car: Q. Okay. Now, I’m going to ask you this: That morning when you were out there and you hear the shot, what do you see? ... [A.] That morning when I was out there, I see Juice and Muk standing at the car. 9 ... Q. You sure of that? A. Am I positive, a hundred percent positive? I just said I wasn’t. You asked me did I have any doubt, and I just said it. I was just – I mean, I’m emotionally drained. You all asking me the same thing over and over and over again. Q. When you made the statement to homicide, did you tell them the truth? ... [A.] Yes. ... Q. When you went to the preliminary hearing – remember it was just a judge, no jury, and I was there and asked you questions – did you tell that