By David Hedges, Publisher
www.thetimesrecord.net
A man convicted of murdering someone he called his best friend has been turned down in his request for a new trial.
Alex Vincent Golosow, also known as "Tattoo Vince," is serving life in prison without chance for parole for the murder of Judson Reid in 2002.
The 53-year-old Golosow filed a writ of habeas corpus, normally considered a defendant's last chance for freedom, in December 2006. He was seeking to overturn his conviction in May 2003.
He filed the writ without an attorney, but Ripley lawyer Ken Skeen II was appointed to represent him at a hearing in 2007.
Golosow cited several grounds in requesting a new trial, including claims he had ineffective counsel at trial and several alleged errors on the part of trial judge Tom Evans.
Golosow also said he was unable to assist with his defense because his thinking was clouded by heavy drug use.
"Tattoo Vince," who earned the nickname for the several tattoos that cover his body, said he had used large quantifies of crystal methamphetamine for a year prior to his arrest in October 2002.
But his attorneys responded that they did not have a problem communicating with Golosow in preparing for the trial. He was held in jail for six months prior to his trial in April of 2003.
Prosecutors said Golosow shot the 52-year Reid behind Golosow's home at Tariff, while Reid's family members were in the front yard. They blamed the shooting on a drug deal gone bad.
Golosow allegedly loaded the body in the trunk of his car and, with the help of friends who also testified, dumped Reid's body in a wooded area in Clay County.
Defense attorneys said there was no evidence Reid was murdered and speculated the troubled Vietnam veteran may have committed suicide. They said Golosow got rid of the body because he did not trust police.
Jurors heard four days of testimony from 22 witnesses and deliberated more than eight hours before returning with the guilty verdict.
Golosow did not testify at his trial, but did take the stand during a hearing on the petition and denied involvement in his friend's death.
Evans also presided over the hearing and issued his ruling last week denying Golosow's request that the conviction be set aside.
Golosow is serving his sentence at the W.Va. Penitentiary at Mt. Olive.
www.thetimesrecord.net
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