Gregory Darwin Bowman

In the midst of arguing motions July 17 in the case of Gregory Darwin Bowman, accused of participating in the May 2009 Lansdowne attack that left William Bennett dead, the court paused to set a date for the trial.

The trial is set to begin July 8, 2013, more than four years after the attack. With the potential of hearing more than 50 witnesses, the court has reserved three weeks for the case.

In preparation for trial, Bowman’s attorneys W. Michael Chick and Meghan Shapiro had argued that a May 2010 agreement with the Commonwealth’s Attorney had identified Bowman as a “principal in the second degree” rather than the first, which has an impact on sentencing and available charges.

Circuit Court Judge Thomas Horne declined to dismiss the charge associated with the designation, calling the motion “premature.”

Additional legal maneuvering occurred with the defense table’s attempt to obtain a subpoena for records from the Loudoun Adult Detention Center. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Perry argued that the records could not be subpoenaed because the Sheriff’s Office is a party in the prosecution. Horne told both sides that he would review the arguments and return a ruling.

The Lansdowne attack occurred in the early morning hours of March 22, 2009. Out for an early morning jog, William and Cynthia Bennett were brutally beaten and left on the sides of Riverside Parkway. William Bennett died before being discovered. His wife Cynthia Bennett spent several months in the hospital recovering.

Jaime Ayala, the driver during the incident, pleaded guilty to second degree murder charges Feb. 9, 2011. A third suspect has also been identified by law enforcement as an attacker in the case. Anthony Roberts has not been charged in the case yet, although he remains in custody on other charges.