Second Buzbee murder trial begins

BAY MINETTE, Ala. - It's round two for a man accused of robbing and beating a service station owner. The second capital murder trial for Eric Buzbee began Thursday in Bay Minette.

Buzbee's first trial was held earlier in 2009, but the jury couldn't reach a verdict. Therefore, Judge James Reid declared a mistrial.

Buzbee is accused of robbing and beating Spanish Fort service station owner Bobby Wilson, on August 11, 2007. Wilson died four months later.

Investigators said they used cell phone records and information from witnesses to identify Buzbee as a person of interest. He was arrested on January 31, 2007.

A new jury was selected earlier this week. Thursday morning, Judge Reid and the jury heard opening statements from both sides.

State Prosecutor Michael Pylant said evidence, including a wallet and a cigar box that he says at one time contained $10,000.00 in cash, was found between the service station and Stage Coach Road, leading to Buzbee's home.

Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb says her prosecution team will try to make their case clearer to this jury, than they did the first one.

"It's a very difficult, circumstantial case. You're talking about trying to present an investigation that was worked on 10 to 12 hours a day for six or seven months in a court room, to 12 people who have to agree on a verdict, you know. We've never said it wasn't difficult, but we do have confidence in this case and hopefully we will do a better job, this time, that all 12 will see," said Newcomb.

Buzbee's attorney, John Beck, says there is no physical evidence linking Buzbee to the crime.

"There's nothing from Wilson's Service Center that was found on Eric, and nothing that belonged to Eric that was left at Wilson's Service Center, and there's also forensic evidence that excludes Eric. We just want a forum where the jury can hear absolutely everything that was done in this case, and hear all the evidence. Because we're confident once they do, there's no way Eric can be convicted," said Beck.

The same defense and prosecution teams that presented the case last May will be presenting their cases again. Newcomb says she expects close to 100 witnesses. She also expects the trial will last about a month, the same as before.