BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
One capital murder charge against Gabe Watson has been dropped at the request of the prosecution.
Watson is facing murder charges in Alabama for the death of his wife Tina Thomas Watson. She died while the couple was honeymooning in Australia in 2003. In 2009, Watson pled guilty to manslaughter charges in Australia. As a result, he served 18 months in an Australian prison.
Lead prosecutor Don Valeska requested the charge of capital murder during the commission of a kidnapping be dropped today in court. Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Tommy Nail granted the request. Watson still faces the charge of capital murder for monetary gain, which alleges that he killed his wife Tina to benefit from her life insurance policy.
Valeska said the dropped charge was a strategic move to simplify things for the jury, but Watson's attorneys say otherwise.
"They didn't have any evidence. He never should have been charged with it in the first place," said Joe Bastire.
He ways prosecutors knew they would never prove their case and as for the second charge Watson faces, Bastire says he's "confident" Watson will be acquitted.
Jury selction took up most of the afternoon Monday. Out 0f 70 potential jurors, close to 65 said they have either heard, read or seen something about the case. Three jurors said they have already made up their minds about Watson's guilt or innocence and say nothing can change their position, not even hearing the evidence. Jury selection will resume Tuesday morning.
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Gabe Watson
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