The man charged with first degree murder in the North Seattle shooting death of Capitol Hill wine steward Yancy Noll will return to court Monday morning to enter his plea. King County Courthouse courtroom 1201 is expected to be full of Noll’s loved ones, friends and supporters.
Here is a message posted to the Yancy Noll Memorial page:
Prosecuting attorney Scott O’Toole wants a full courtroom on October 8th, for the arraignment of Yancy Noll’s accused killer. He wants to show the judge how wide a circle Yancy touched. How big a hole this criminal left in our community. If you knew Yancy, or knew someone who knew him, or even if you just generally have a good opinion of wine stewards, hell, wine even! There! If you like wine and are upset at the absence of a good answer man about vino, come to the King County Superior Court in Seattle at 8:30am on Monday October 8th. Follow the crowd to the courtroom. This man’s loving reach into our community was longer and wider than any one of us knows. I will be there.
Thomasdinh Bowman, 29, was arrested late last month following weeks of investigation and surveillance of his North Seattle home just blocks from where Noll was gunned down in what police say appears to be a road rage murder. Witnesses helped police develop a detailed sketch of the suspect and provided a description of the BMW convertible Z4 seen speeding away from the shooting scene at 15th Ave NE and 75th. An anonymous tip on September 12th lead to Bowman.
Bowman’s Facebook profile image. Police say he had equipment to make his own bullets
In charging the 29-year-old with first degree murder, prosecutors say Bowman acted with “premeditated intent” on August 31st and then proceeded to undertake a “sophisticated” effort to cover up his crime including overhauling his car to replace a window broken in the shooting and replacing the car’s distinctive tires while managing to stay out of the public’s view as a search for Noll’s killer continued.
Prosecutors say Bowman is an avid and talented gunman and referenced a Flickr video posted to an account traced to him showing Bowman steadily progressing through a gun course during a 2011 shooting competition. “1st Place,” the video reads. That video has since been removed from Flickr. CHS secured and posted a version of the minute-long clip here.
We have posted the complete charging documentation for the case here.
Police found a gun room at the North Seattle house Bowman shares with his wife. Prosecutors have said the 9mm pistol used to kill Noll has not been found but a slide clip from that type of pistol was found at Bowman’s Vague Industries.
At this point, no additional arrests or charges have been made in the case. A review of documents filed in the first degree murder case reveal little new information though Bowman’s full defense team is listed:
John Henry Browne is a prominent Seattle defense attorney “known equally for his zeal in representing his clients and his flair before television cameras,” according to the Associated Press.
If convicted, prosecutors say Bowman, a former child prodigy and onetime resident of the E Republican Melrose Terrace co-op building, will face up to 31 years in prison.
Noll is remembered as a friendly face at the Broadway Market QFC where he worked as wine steward since 2010. He turned 43 earlier this year.
A message on the memorial page says Yancy Noll’s supporters are planning to wear ribbons to Monday morning’s arraignment hearing. They will be green, Noll’s favorite color.
I also hope he rots in whatever kind of eternal Hell folks can think up.
While they’re at it, SPD should charge his wife with harboring. You can’t tell me she didn’t know he did it when he showed up at home with a broken window and made a trip to Oregon to get it fixed, all so he could hide the car in the garage.
This is most likely a simple Arraignment. He will plead “Not Guilty” and it will be months if not years before he actually goes to trial or pleads guilty. By all means it is important to show support and give a message to the Judge; but don’t be surprised when you pleads “Not Guilty” at this hearing.
Correction, should say HE pleads “Not Guilty”, not YOU :)
I would be incredibly surprised if she isn’t eventually charged for something; hopefully SPD is just being careful in putting together a strong case. I wonder if there are any negotiations happening around her testifying against her husband….
What a terrible, terrible thing; I was so glad to see the headlines when they arrested this guy!
Perhaps she didn’t know — it’s very easy to be in denial about a loved one. Or perhaps she was so frightened that she was scared to come forward. I remember reading that he had a raging temper.
Anyway, my point is, I’m surprised you’re being so quick to label this woman a criminal as an internet detective who doesn’t know the details of the case.
I would not be too surprised to see a plea bargain. If the weapon is not found and Bowman/wife don’t crack during detention and confess, this case won’t be easy to prove in court. Remember the OJ Simpson trial?
Doubtful the prosecution will make 1st degree stick against a quality defense attorney, so again, expect a plea bargain.
And even if he got a 30 year sentence, he would serve 6 out of 10. I may be wrong about the amount of ‘discount’. Of course, even one year in a penitentiary is serious punishment.
A lot of his co workers are hoping as many people can be there . we will be there to show this person how many people yancy knew and touched..
we have heard many people expressing this man get life or the death penalty but any type of incarceration imposed on this man would be welcomed.. for me i think life in prison is to easy for him. It would be soo much more fitting to be put away for a long period of time and then to emerge and see all that he has missed for his actions.
This has not been easy for any of us. we arent expecting anything but for justice to be served.. and really hope it does.. and its great that there is such a community of support that comes in everyday to the store and still express how much they miss him..
his memorial is still up. please stop by and write something in the books provided if you havent already… thank you everyone for all the kind words we have gotten to hear through this entire ordeal..
How can the maximum sentence for premeditated 1st Degree Murder only be 31 years?
That’s kind of why I wonder what they’re putting together behind the scenes. If she was scared of him, or he was abusive, I would expect that those would be potentially mitigating circumstances or that she might have testimony against him. You’re totally right that we don’t know.
“Prosecuting attorney Scott O’Toole wants a full courtroom on October 8th, for the arraignment of Yancy Noll’s accused killer. He wants to show the judge how wide a circle Yancy touched.”
Why? What does the width of Yancy’s circle have to do with bringing his killer to justice? If Yancy were generally disliked, would O’Toole’s job be more difficult? Less important? If nobody cared about the murder, would O’Toole’s evidence against Bowman be less compelling?
At least it’s a good opportunity for those who knew Yancy, or knew someone who knew him, or even just generally have a good opinion of wine stewards — or hell, wine even! — to scowl at his accused murderer. You could put your thumb and forefinger together and crush Bowman’s head. That’ll show him.
you are a tool
Agreed. What a tawdry appeal to inject emotion into a system professed to be fair and devoid of the matters of heart.
Little wonder that the justice system comes down so hard on minorities when this cheap theater is a matter of course. The more outrage, the more someone should suffer punishment. Little wonder the murderer Ian Birk walks free in America.
It may affect bail, or the judge’s decision to remand, or whatever else might happen at the hearing.
And if nothing else, it the defense attorney he’s hired has a “flair for the television cameras” then this would be a good, non-tawdry counter to that. The prosecutors we pay with our tax dollars generally don’t do that kind of PR, so it has to come from the grassroots friends-and-family.
“It may affect bail, or the judge’s decision to remand, or whatever else might happen at the hearing.”
But should it? Does the popularity of the victim have any bearing on the defendant’s likeliness to flee?
“[If] the defense attorney he’s hired has a ‘flair for the television cameras’ then this would be a good, non-tawdry counter to that.”
Are you sure you understand the meaning of “tawdry,” Joe? Your comment suggests otherwise.