Trials for Marcell Richie and Richard Vaughn, who both face the death penalty for last year’s killing of William “Will” Bowen during a home invasion robbery, have been postponed.
Both trials were scheduled to begin Monday. Vaughn’s trial has been pushed back to May 6 and Richie’s trial now is scheduled for June 3.
Attorney Marty Lester, who is representing Richie, wouldn’t comment specifically on the capital case, but said there are motions to be heard and research to be done to prepare for the trial.
“Discovery is currently ongoing. It wouldn’t be proper for the case to be tried without discovery completed,” he said.
Richie and Vaughn, both 22, are accused of killing Bowen on Jan. 26, 2012, as they tried to commit a home invasion robbery at Bowen’s home on Alder Avenue in Fort Walton Beach.
Bowen apparently fought with two of three men who broke into the home and was shot in the chest.
The third man has been identified as 20-year-old Robert Lovell Vaughn, Richard Vaughn’s brother. He also has been charged with first-degree murder, but prosecutors haven’t said whether they will seek the death penalty for him.
Two other men, Anthony Michael Gay and Dustin Michael Sims, were also charged in connection with the crime. They are accused of being principals to the killing and armed robbery.
Gay, 24, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last October after pleading no contest to attempted home invasion with a firearm. Prosecutors dropped the charge of principal to murder.
As part of the plea bargain he agreed to testify against the other four charged in Bowen’s murder case.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.
