Jeremy Blake Bowlin, who told deputies he shot and killed his mother’s boyfriend in self-defense after repeated beatings, walked free Thursday afternoon following acquittal by a Warren County Circuit Court jury.

“It takes a lot of courage to find someone not guilty when someone has been killed,” said Ramel Cotton, one of three attorneys defending the 20-year-old Bowlin in the death of his mother’s live-in boyfriend, 25-year-old Timothy Harmon. “I’m just glad they came back with what we feel is a correct verdict.”

Bowlin, who had been in the Warren County Jail for the 18 months since the Jan. 6, 2011, killing, was released without posting bail Thursday, despite facing previous, unrelated charges of auto burglary, residential burglary and grand larceny.

With his mouth open and eyes wide, Bowlin watched as the jury delivered a not guilty verdict. He said nothing.

Neither he nor his mother, Christine Bowlin, 38, took the stand during the four-day trial, but the jury and Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick heard three tapes of Jeremy Blake Bowlin telling Warren County deputies just after the killing that Harmon beat them both repeatedly.

Harmon was arrested for domestic violence three times between 2005 and his death, and defense attorneys said throughout the trial that Harmon was beating Bowlin and his mother the morning of the shooting.

The Bowlins and Harmon shared a mobile home at 3400 U.S. 80 Lot 4, where the shooting occurred shortly before 4 a.m.

In the tapes, Jeremy Blake Bowlin admitted to shooting Harmon as he stood in the doorway of the trailer. He said he shot after Harmon punched him in the face while asleep on a couch.

Prosecutors relied on a statement that Bowlin went outside after he was awakened, shot at an unarmed Harmon and then returned to the trailer to get more ammunition before waiting outside and then taking a second shot, which struck Harmon in the heart.

“That’s not reasonable self-defense,” District Attorney Ricky Smith said during closing arguments. “Once the danger is over, the ability to argue self-defense is over.”

Photos of Bowlin showed several bruises over his body and an abrasion to his side. The abrasion was caused by a gunshot from Harmon, defense attorney P.J. Lee said.

“He was in a struggle for his life,” Lee said.

A 30.06 rifle was recovered next to Harmon’s body. Four 30.06 rounds were found in and around the trailer, and a live round was found in the gun.

Neighbors testified that Harmon and Jeremy Blake Bowlin had been shooting guns on New Year’s Eve, but could not identify the guns.

Shell casings inside the trailer were under clothes and clutter, Assistant District Attorney Lane Campbell said.

Before jury deliberations began, Judge Patrick had advised jurors that they could find Bowlin guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Deliberations began at about noon, and the verdict was read at 3:45 p.m.