FARMINGTON — A Carthage man accused of cutting his girlfriend’s throat with a knife on Nov. 1, 2015, pleaded not guilty Friday to related charges in Franklin County Superior Court.

Bennie T. Bowie II, 47, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a weapon. He also pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of violation of conditions of release. He is accused in the latter case of trying to communicate with the victim while he was incarcerated.

The attempted murder and assault charges are each punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Bowie has been in jail since his arrest in November. He is being held at the Franklin County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $250,000 worth of real estate.

Bowie is accused of cutting his girlfriend’s throat with a knife, punching her in the face and repeatedly slamming her head on the dashboard of his truck at the camper trailer they shared in Carthage, according to a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office affidavit.

The victim told Detective Kenneth Charles that throughout the altercation that began the evening of Oct. 31, Bowie kept saying, “Die, bitch, die,” and, “I should kill you,” according to the affidavit.

The victim told Charles that Bowie had consumed at least 12 beers and an undetermined amount of vodka. Bowie had also used intravenous heroin, she said.

When the victim wanted to go to her father’s residence for the night, Bowie “became upset and jealous” and accused the victim of cheating on him with other men, according to the affidavit.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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