Thursday, February 23, 2012

Gabe Watson Aquitted!


An Alabama judge acquitted Gabe Watson who was accused of drowning his newlywed wife during a honeymoon diving trip to Australia eight years ago. The judge felt that prosecutors did not prove the man intentionally killed his wife to collect life insurance proceeds. Circuit Judge Tommy Nail issued his ruling after the prosecution rested during the two-week-long trial. Consequently, the jurors were never asked to deliberate. Prosecutor Don Valeska, seemed surprised at the directed verdict.

The 34 year-old Watson faced life in prison without parole if convicted. Tina Thomas Watson drowned in 2003. Watson served 18 months in an Australian prison after pleading guilty there to a manslaughter charge involving negligence. However, the instant case was alleging murder. Judge Nail ruled that prosecutors failed to show Watson intentionally killed his bride. The only eyewitness testified he thought Watson was trying to save the woman.

Defense attorneys correctly argued that Watson didn't stand to gain any money from her death because Tina Watson's father was the beneficiary of her life insurance policy. The defendant always claimed that he loved his wife and that her death was an accident.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Finally justice!

Anonymous said...

Always wondered what happened in this case.

Scoop said...

Always thought the murder for profit was a weak angle in a newlywed. After all, how many newly weds have the time to change their beneficiary before the honeymoon?

Legal Eagle 7 said...

Never realized that she might not have had time to change her beneficiary. Shouldn't the prosecution have explored this BEFORE they filed charges?

Anonymous said...

Justice appears to have prevailed based on lack of evidence

Anonymous said...

Yup, brides drown on their honey moon all the time... NOT