Jurors Deadlock Over Sentencing in Murder

A Superior Court judge in Van Nuys has declared a mistrial after jurors announced they were hopelessly deadlocked over whether to sentence a Canoga Park man to death or life in prison for murdering his ex-girlfriend.

The jury on Wednesday split 11 to 1 in favor of sentencing Mark Bowersock, 40, to life in prison without parole, Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Chasworth said. She added that jurors said they initially split 7 to 5 in favor of execution, but six among the majority were willing to vote for life imprisonment to break the deadlock.

Prosecutors will decide later whether to continue to seek the death penalty for Bowersock, who shot 35-year-old Laurie Prejean to death because she testified against him in a previous court action.

In March 1994, Bowersock was convicted of assaulting Prejean and was sentenced to one year in jail. But he remained free on bail pending appeal.

On Dec. 22, 1994, a warrant for his arrest was issued for probation violation. In January 1995, Prejean testified at a probation hearing that Bowersock had beaten her, leading to Bowersock’s jail sentence.

Days after he was released, Bowersock located Prejean with the aid of a private investigator and confronted her while she was on the phone with her sister, Chasworth said.

Prejean’s sister heard her scream “Oh my God, no, no, no, please no!” before hearing two gunshots, Chasworth said.

Bowersock eventually surrendered to authorities. During the six-week trial, Bowersock testified that the shooting was accidental, caused by a scuffle that Prejean started.