February 24, 2012 4:51 AM
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Judge acquits Ala. man in bride's honeymoon death
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Prosecutors encountered legal hurdles just getting Gabe Watson into an Alabama courtroom to face a murder charge in the death of his wife, who drowned during a honeymoon dive off Australia's Great Barrier Reef eight years ago. In the end, a judge decided they didn't have enough evidence for jurors to even bother deliberating.
A state judge on Thursday agreed with a defense motion and acquitted the 34-year-old Watson in the death of his wife of 11 days, Tina Thomas Watson.
The defense — which contended that 26-year-old Tina Watson's death was an unintended, horrible mishap — never even got started after prosecutors finished. Jurors filed out of the basement courtroom without having a chance to weigh in on the case.
© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A state judge on Thursday agreed with a defense motion and acquitted the 34-year-old Watson in the death of his wife of 11 days, Tina Thomas Watson.
The defense — which contended that 26-year-old Tina Watson's death was an unintended, horrible mishap — never even got started after prosecutors finished. Jurors filed out of the basement courtroom without having a chance to weigh in on the case.
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