State v. Bowie

Bowie was convicted primarily on evidence presented by Michael J. Lake, the victim of the crimes and only eyewitness to the events. However, his testimony was corroborated in several significant aspects by other state’s witnesses.

Although the testimony of Bowie is contrary to that of the victim in many respects, the principal issues in the case are directed toward the introduction of prior crimes evidence for impeachment purposes.

Michael Lake testified that in the early morning hours of January 25, 1975, he was driving his father’s blue Cadillac in downtown Milwaukee. He was driving with the…