Trial set for Alabama man in bride's honeymoon death

Feb. 13, 2012 02:31 PMAssociated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- An Alabama man went on trial Monday on a capital murder charge in the death of his newlywed bride more than eight years after she drowned during a honeymoon diving trip in Australia.

Prosecutors contend Gabe Watson killed 26-year-old Tina Thomas Watson during a dive by turning off her air supply and restraining her until she lost consciousness. Watson, 34, hoped to collect on a modest life insurance policy, prosecutors said.

The defense argues the woman's death was an accident.

The trial has been a long time coming for relatives of Tina Watson, who died just 11 days after her wedding in October 2003. Watson pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served 18 months in prison in Australia, but he hasn't yet faced a jury.

"What's really important to us is that this go through the process that should have happened in Australia, that he has to stand before the evidence and answer to it," said Tommy Thomas, Tina's father, in an interview last week.

Meeting with attorneys before beginning jury selection, Circuit Judge Tommy Nail said Watson's trial would last at least two weeks. Potential witnesses have been subpoenaed from Australia, but it's unclear exactly who will testify.

While capital murder normally carries a possible death sentence upon conviction, former Attorney General Troy King agreed to waive the death penalty in return for Australia agreeing to deport Watson after he finished his prison term there.

The judge dealt the defense a setback before jury selection began when he threw out an attempt by Watson's lawyers to have King testify. Defense attorney Brett Bloomston argued that King put up signs and used social media to "promote" the Watson case during his re-election bid, which failed.

"He used this case as a political platform," Bloomston said.

Nail said such evidence had no place in the trial.

"I just don't see how he could offer any relevant testimony," Nail said.