Killer apologizes to family

Kenneth Boswell and Omaha police described an Omaha man's September 2008 slaying as the byproduct of one of three things:

A fight over drugs. A fight over money. A fight over a woman.

But family and friends of the deceased, Bernard Newsome, called it something else: an ambush.

Douglas County District Judge Russell Bowie sentenced Boswell, 44, on Wednesday to 15 to 17 years for manslaughter and weapon use in the stabbing death of the 54-year-old Newsome.

Boswell faced up to 40 years in prison after prosecutors allowed him to plead to manslaughter instead of a second-degree murder charge.

A tearful Boswell choked up several times as he begged for forgiveness from Newsome's family.

Boswell said he wished he never would have gone over to Newsome's apartment, 1875 S. 75th St.. Boswell's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Brenda Leuck, said Boswell's fiancée had tried to purchase crack cocaine from Newsome.

Newsome took $50 but refused to give her the drugs because she owed Newsome $5 for cigarettes, Leuck said.

Boswell then went over to confront Newsome. During an argument, Leuck said, Newsome swung a chair at Boswell and Boswell stabbed him in the stomach – causing wounds that ended up to be fatal.

Newsome's girlfriend, Kim Nolan, told a different story. She said she heard a commotion and emerged from the bathroom to find Newsome holding up a chair and trying to fend off Boswell.

"He cut me, call 911," Newsome said, according to Nolan.

.Newsome died two weeks later.

Nolan said Boswell dented her door and barged into the apartment looking for Newsome.

Boswell said he never meant to kill a man he described as his friend. (Newsome's family said the two weren't that well acquainted.)

Boswell told the judge he regrets going over there on behalf of his former girlfriend. Newsome also had once dated the woman, Leuck said.

"I would take his friendship over the relationship I had with her," Boswell said. "I relive that night over and over and it doesn't get any easier. I wish I could trade places with Mr. Newsome. I ask for forgiveness and that God have mercy on his soul."

Newsome's son and Newsome's ex-wife said they were disappointed in the sentence. Prosecutor Rob MacTaggart had asked Bowie to follow a probation officer's recommendation and sentence Boswell to the maximum term.

With credit for time served, Boswell likely will have to serve seven years before he is eligible for parole. Under state sentencing guidelines, defendants must serve half of the lower term before they are eligible for parole; almost all are released after serving half the upper term.

Kimberly Newsome said her ex-husband had "his demons" but he wasn't a drug dealer — and he didn't deserve to die.

Newsome's son, Bernard Newsome Jr., told Boswell that he has a higher judge waiting for him. Newsome left behind five children and two grandchildren.

"It's not enough time," the younger Newsome said of the sentence. "We'll never get to see our dad again.

"No matter what the judge said, it's between him and God. He'll have to answer for his actions."


Contact the writer:

444-1275, todd.cooper@owh.com

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