Judge: Kettering fatal shooting victim’s urn OK in court before trial

The judge overseeing the adult murder case against a 17-year-old Kettering defendant has denied an attempt to get the Fairmont High School victim’s urn barred from the courtroom.

The container holding Ronnie Bowers’ remains and other displays of support, however, will be prohibited during the trial of Kylen Gregory, according to the judge’s ruling.

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Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Langer said “spectator displays during pretrial proceedings” will not impact Gregory’s right to a fair trial.

The urn holding Bowers’ ashes became an issue earlier this year in a January juvenile court hearing to decide if Gregory would be tried as an adult in the September 2016 shooting death of the 16-year-old Bowers.

Gregory’s attorney objected after Bowers’ family brought the urn into the courtroom, saying it would prejudice the case. Juvenile Court Judge Anthony Capizzi said the urn would not sway any decision by him.

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Gregory is being tried as an adult in the shooting of Bowers Sept. 4, 2016 on Willowdale Avenue shortly after both separately left AlterFest. Bowers died two days later of a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide.

Gregory was indicted in August on two counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two related charges, court records show.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

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