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Seven Years Later, Man Comes Forward In Murder

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- One man, Amir Allen, is in prison serving a life sentence for a murder that happened seven years ago.

But now, a different man, Quinn Bowman, says he is responsible for the killing.

It's an unusual decision for a judge to make. Should he give a man a new trial because somebody else comes along saying, 'I killed the victim.'

That decision must now be made.

The murder happened in 2005 in Highland Park. Seven years ago a jury believed Allen committed the murder, in part, because of his own relationship with the ex-wife. He is serving a life sentence.

Bowman, facing his own robbery conviction, says he overheard Allen in a state prison refer to the victim and decided to come forward. Bowman took the stand Monday and spoke about the murder.

"We got to arguing and I told him to get away from his family," Bowman said. "I shot (the victim) one time in his chest with the 357 magnum 'cause he robbed me."

Bowman contends it was over drugs.

"I told (Allen) I'm not going to let you sit in prison," Bowman later said. "He said, 'I'm not telling you what to do, but it would be right.'"

The prosecution was skeptical of Bowman's story and, to some degree, the judge was skeptical, too. He will make his decision in the next few days.

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