Gabe Watson Arrives In Birmingham
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: December 7, 2010
He's been called the 'Honeymoon Killer' and he's now back in his hometown to face trial. Hoover native, Gabe Watson, has been extradited to Alabama. He flew in from Los Angeles around 11:30p.m. Monday night and was immediately transported to the Jefferson County Jail. He's being charged with one count of capital murder in the course of a kidnapping and one count of capital murder for pecuniary gain. The charges stem from the 2003 drowning death of his wife, Tina Thomas Watson. The newlyweds were on their honeymoon in Australia.
Watson's attorney, Brett Bloomston, says he wants to see his client as soon as possible. He says trying to gain access to reach Watson over the phone has been nearly impossible.
"I'm very anxious to see him to speak with him and to reassure him that things are going to be ok," says Bloomston.
Bloomston says he's ready to fight for his client.
"Courting Tina, being engaged to her and going through a ceremony in front of friends and family was all a rouse just to kill her? It's as ludicrous as it sounds," says Bloomston.
Bloomston says the state attorney general's office has a very difficult case to prove.
"The Australians did not prove murder. The (Alabama) attorney general is not going to be able to prove murder," says Bloomston.
Watson served 18 months in an Australian prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, saying he didn't render aid to his drowning wife.
"The Australian government is not some third world country. It went through the appellate process. It went all the way through that system and it was resolved over there," says Bloomston.
Here in Jefferson County, the 33 year-old suspect is set to be held without bond. It's something Bloomston is looking to change.
"Gabe has no risk of flight. In fact, he was coming back to the States voluntarily. Also, he has proven over the past 7 years, after this tragic accident, that he's not a danger to anyone. He just wants to put this chapter of his life behind him," says Bloomston.
What the Birmingham attorney can't put behind him is what he calls the 'mystery' behind jurisdiction in this case.
"We don't have a good theory why the case is being prosecuted in Jefferson County in the Birmingham division," says Bloomston.
Bloomston also questions the authority of an involved officer.
"We are told Lt. Brad Flynn from the Helena Police Department is involved with transporting him back. We are uncertain of what jurisdiction is or why he would have any involvement in this case other than he has a personal relationship with the Thomas family," says Bloomston.
