Mr. Bowles pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Walter Hinton, who died of asphyxia during an attack in 1994, and was sentenced to death. On direct appeal, this Court vacated the death sentence. During the re-sentencing, the jury voted unanimously to recommend a death sentence and Mr. Bowles was condemned again. This Court upheld the sentence on direct appeal and Mr. Bowles then filed a post-conviction challenge in trial court. It was denied and this appeal followed.