The Bowen Turner case in South Carolina has been one for the outrage records. Listeners across the country have been horrified as they watched the justice system coddle Bowen over and over while the thrice-accused rapist gave his second, third and fourth chances the middle finger. But now, something good could come from the case — a case that included the horrific bullying of Dallas Stoller, one of his accusers. Bullying that resulted in her death. 

Something good might come from Bowen’s 2022 sham of a plea deal hearing — orchestrated by a cunning lawyer-legislator, executed by a prosecutor blinded by ambition and approved by a Good Ole Boy judge. Change might be coming because of an appeal filed by another one of Bowen’s accusers, Chloe Bess.

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell take a look at the historic filing and what went down during oral arguments in front of the state Court of Appeals on Tuesday. The state’s victims bill of rights affords victims the opportunity to be heard in court. In trials, victims can testify before a verdict is rendered — before a potential conviction. But in plea deals they’ve been restricted to being heard only after the judge has accepted the pleading — only AFTER the conviction. Chloe Bess and her legal team are trying to change that … to finally make victims’ rights MEANINGFUL.

Episode Resources

SC Court of Appeals Broadcast Link

SC Victims’ Constitutional Rights

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