A man on death row was denied his appeal by the Colorado Appeals Court on Thursday, a case that sentenced him to life in prison without parole for the murder of a man at an Aurora park in 2004.
The appellate court upheld the conviction of Sir Mario Owens in the Fourth of July shooting death of Gregory Vann at Lowry Park. He was also sentenced to 64 years for attempted murder against Javad Marshall-Fields and Alvin Bell.
Marshall-Fields was to testify against Owens and his accomplice, Robert Ray, for the park shootings. But Marshall-Fields and his fiancée, Vivian Wolfe, were shot and killed on the eve of that trial. Owens was sentenced to death for the latter murders.
The appeal was based, in part, on claims by Owens’ defense team that some witnesses may have been treated differently by being protected over fears of retaliation.
Javad’s mother, Rhonda Fields, said Thursday that it’s one thing or another with Owens and Ray.
“They don’t want to take accountability for their actions so they look for these excuses,” Fields said. “I’m pleased the (court) rendered the decision (it) did.”
Owens’ team can still appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, said lawyer Dan Recht, who is not involved in the case. “Almost with certainty, he will appeal,” Recht said.
The death-penalty sentence against Owens is still subject to appeal, according to the Arapahoe County district attorney’s office.
Ray also was found guilty in the witness killing and is on death row.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or
