Criminal finally gets justice he deserves

Adrian Bowman, 24, of University City near St. Louis, finally had his last day in court. Bowman is by any definition an example of the thugs who are plaguing our society. Police portray Bowman as a violent drug dealer. He was convicted this week of murder for the killing of Daryl Spann of St. Louis. The murder followed an earlier altercation between the two. But that's just the beginning of the story.

Just three months ago, a jury found Bowman innocent of a triple homicide that authorities said was drug-related. Police were adamant that Bowman executed the three in a drug deal gone bad. But a St. Louis jury found him innocent.

Police also are convinced that Bowman was involved in another triple homicide in 1996. Again, those murders were drug-related. Bowman would have been about 17 at the time of those murders.

But time and good fortune ran out for Bowman this week when a jury found him guilty of murder in the Spann killing and the wounding of another man.

Following the Spann murder, Bowman fled to New York. He escaped capture for nearly three years. But when captured he was returned to Missouri and stood trial this week. Now Bowman will remain on death row awaiting his final punishment. His sentencing date is in August.

Adrian Bowman is a prime example of the depths into which our society has fallen. His violence is well-documented. He resolves issues with a gun. And he clearly makes his living off of the drug misfortunes of others. And yet, despite the evidence, Bowman was able to remain free - albeit on the run - for long enough.

We hope society soon gains the justice that Adrian Bowman deserves. Unfortunately, Bowman will remain a financial burden on society for many years before he is executed. But that day will eventually come. And when it does, justice will have truly been served. It's just sad and tragic that it took this long for the long arm of the law to finally put Adrian Bowman behind bars for good. Yet even now, justice can still be served. The sooner, the better.