State v. Bowden

OPINION

KELLEHER, Justice.

This is the second time we have had the opportunity to consider an appeal from a conviction of the defendant, Michael Bow-den (Bowden). His conviction was for manslaughter, the decedent a twenty-three-month-old child. Although the facts are discussed in our earlier decision, State v. Bowden, R.I., 439 A.2d 263 (1982), we shall repeat those relevant to the issues in this appeal.

At the time of the child’s death, Bowden was a dental technician in the United States Navy and was living with his girl friend, Yvette Harris, in Newport. He developed a close relationship with…