The State - News from Aug. 24, 1986
The attorney for a man charged with slaying a Greek Orthodox priest says he will question the priest’s sexual behavior. Edward Bowman, 39, a former taxi driver, is accused of bludgeoning and stabbing to death the Rev. John Karastmatis in the priest’s Santa Cruz church. Santa Cruz Municipal Judge Richard Kessell ruled during a preliminary hearing that attorney Gerald Christensen can continue his questioning about the priest’s sexual activities and moral character as long as the judge is satisfied that resulting evidence may be used as trial defense. Prosecutor Art Danner criticized the defense queries as “character assassination” and irrelevant.
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