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| N.C. Death-Row Inmate Appeal Denied |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/29/2002 |
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A death-row inmate whose defense attorney admitted drinking more than 12 ounces of 80-proof rum every night during trial was denied a new trial and sentencing hearing. Superior Court Judge Michael Helms said in a ruling recently that he found no evidence that attorney Thomas Portwood's drinking problem affected his performance during Nathan Bowie's trial. Bowie, 31, was sentenced to death in 1993 for the murders of two men outside an apartment complex in 1991. No date has been set for his execution. Alexander Charns, Bowie's appellate attorney, said he would ask the state Supreme Court to review the case. He called the order 'an outrage,' saying Helms ignored a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring defense attorneys to thoroughly investigate a defendant's background. Neither Portwood nor his co-counsel, Mark Killian, obtained Bowie's social service, school and mental health records. They did not call witnesses who could have detailed Bowie's troubled childhood, alcohol abuse and mental problems - mitigating factors that Bowie's new attorneys say could have swayed a jury to at least impose a life sentence. The judge cited the testimony of other attorneys who said Portwood's drinking 'caused social problems but did not affect, and has not affected, Portwood's ability to practice law.' Portwood testified in October that he began drinking every night around 6 p.m. and was never drunk in the courtroom. Portwood said Wednesday that he hasn't taken a drink since January 2001, when he was arrested for drunken driving. He said he no longer handles death penalty cases. |
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Nathan Bowie is a good friend of mine.we grew up together at sipes orchard home for boys.We roomed together and went to school together.I dont think that Thomas Portwood should even beable to practice law anymore after what he done to nathan.Nathan is not the only one that he done that away.He has put another man Ronald Frye to death.I would not want to pay him to help me out.Portwood did not call any witnesses.Nathan had alot of witnesses from school teachers,foster parents,friends, and family.Lets help Nathan out by not putting him to death because of his lawyer.