By MONROE ROARK
mroark@thecitizennews.com

Jim Watson is set to square off against his late wife's family Jan. 25 in the next round of the wrongful death suit filed against him.

Among the issues to be discussed are a motion to have the attorneys for Fred Callaway, Beverley Watson's father, and his family taken off the case, as well an attempt to stop an action Jim Watson filed in Probate Court concerning his assets.

Callaway, along with Beverley's three siblings and on behalf of her two children, filed suit in the fall charging that Jim Watson caused his wife's wrongful death and then lied repeatedly to cover it up, according to court records.

After the suit was filed, Judge Paschal English issued an order prohibiting Jim Watson from divesting any of the couple's marital assets, including the contents of their home and a business they jointly owned.

According to Melvin Hewitt, Callaway's attorney, Jim Watson had an attorney file in Probate Court for a year's support, effectively circumventing English's ruling.

Hewitt said he has filed an action in Probate Court to stop that, and another motion in Superior Court charging that Watson is in contempt and has evaded answers required of him during the discovery process.

A motion also has been filed to have Hewitt removed from the case, claiming that the Watsons' two children, who are also named as plaintiffs in the suit, should have “neutral” representation, an idea that Hewitt calls “ludicrous.”

The Watsons' daughter has filed an affidavit saying that she wants no part of the suit against her father.

“We're really representing the children,” said Hewitt. “We're just trying to stay on the case, proceed with the wrongful death claim, and get control of the assets.”

Beverley Watson was last seen alive Jan. 17, 1997. A portion of her remains were found by a surveyor last year.

The Fulton County Police Department has investigated the case, which is now in the hands of that county's district attorney, whose office is still reviewing it. Beverley Watson's remains were returned to her husband last summer, and he had her cremated.

The Fulton County District Attorney has not charged anyone with a crime in connection with her death. Fayette County law enforcement authorities are not involved in the case, and Jim Watson has never been named as a suspect.

The suit alleges that there were numerous incidents of physical and mental abuse inflicted upon Beverley Watson by her husband during their marriage, and that Jim Watson was involved in “incidents of infidelity.”

According to the suit, Jim Watson was “extremely possessive” and “demonstrated extreme and unreasonable jealousy” toward his wife, who had filed for divorce and sought court protection against him before her disappearance because she feared for her safety.

On the night she was last seen, a Friday, Beverley Watson allegedly left her home in Fayetteville and went to the home of a friend, Debbie White, according to the suit. She then went back home and got into an argument with her husband, the suit claims.

White and numerous family members tried to reach her by telephone throughout the weekend, the suit alleges, but Jim Watson lied about her whereabouts, saying one time that she was asleep in the house.

When White called back Monday, Jan. 20, she told Jim Watson that she was going to the police. Later that day he went to the Fayette County Sheriff's Department and reported his wife missing, according to the suit.

Beverley Watson's family charges that Jim Watson called her employer, WhiteWater Country Club, the morning of Jan. 20 to say that she was out of town for a few days, although her car and many personal items such as her purse were still at her home.

Jim Watson also claimed that his wife left the house the night of Jan. 17 and never came back, although he claimed she was home sleeping when her family and friends called over the weekend, the suit alleges.

The family is asking for more than $1 million in damages based on the value of Beverley Watson's remaining years with her children as well as pain and suffering. Jim Watson has caused her “excruciating pain, terror and emotional horror” through his actions, the suit charges.