Friday, February 1, 2002
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Friday, February 1, 2002 |
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Accused of wife's murder, Watson free on bond By JOHN
MUNFORD
Accused murderer Jim Watson became a free man Wednesday as he was released from the Fulton County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Watson, 38, is accused of murdering his wife, Beverley, in January of 1997 after she was reported missing from their Fayetteville home. Her remains were found in a wooded area in south Fulton County over two years after her disappearance. Watson was indicted Tuesday, Jan. 15, by a Fulton County Grand Jury for the murder of his wife, although the indictment indicates that it is not known how Beverley Watson died. Because Watson's attorney has filed a request for a speedy trial, it is possible the trial will be in June. Just because Watson is out of jail doesn't mean he is totally free. To remain on bond, he must meet a strict list of conditions set by Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford Jr. To comply with an order to stay away from any witnesses in the case, Watson will be provided with a copy of the state's witness list so he will know exactly whom to stay away from. Bedford also warned Watson not to hire anyone to approach a potential witness, with the exception of his attorneys. Watson, a former police officer, also had to surrender all his firearms and any police badge or identification in his possession. During his testimony, Watson admitted to owning a badge from the Manchester Police Department where he served as a police officer until he "quit" in 2000. He has also served as a part-time police officer for the Riverdale Police Department. Watson must also notify the Fayette and Fulton County sheriff's departments of the license plate and description of any vehicle he plans to drive while he is on bond, Judge Bedford ordered. And he cannot drive or ride in a vehicle with illegally tinted windows, the judge said. Watson must also abide by a 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. curfew while he is on bond, the judge ordered. In opposing bond for Watson, Fulton County assistant District Attorney Sheila Ross argued that Watson admitted stalking Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department by driving by his house several times. Jordan led the initial investigation into Beverley Watson's disappearance, which turned into a murder investigation after her remains were found. "That is classic intimidation, your honor," she said. "... If he will stalk police officers ... now that he's indicted it's reasonable to infer he will stalk witnesses." Jordan testified that he feared for the safety of witnesses in the case should Watson be granted bail. He said Watson followed him 20 or 30 times during the course of the investigation. Jordan also said Watson drove by his home three times, which Watson said he did because he wanted to see where the investigator lived. "I felt as though he was trying to intimidate me and my family," Jordan said.
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