Buzbee cleared of murder charge

BAY MINETTE, Ala. - After three trials, a verdict is finally reached in a Baldwin County murder case. Eric Buzbee was acquitted of killing Bobby Wilson.

As soon as the judge asked the jury to confirm its decision, there was sobbing throughout the courtroom. The tears came from both sides. The victim's family was visibly upset, and Buzbee was emotional as well.

"Justice was served," Eric Buzbee said.

Those were Buzbee's first words as a free man, as he walked out of the Baldwin County Jail. He was there for the past two years, accused of killing Spanish Fort Business owner Bobby Wilson.

"A waste of time is all it was. Poor police work," added Buzbee.

Wilson was beaten and robbed at his Spanish Fort service station in 2007. Since then, the state has tried to convict Buzbee for murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury, the second in a mistrial.

Defense Attorney John Beck said he's happy this time was different. He said the proof was in the evidence.

"There were fingerprints that excluded Eric Buzbee. There was DNA under Mr. Wilson's fingernails that showed Eric didn't do this. So every piece of physical evidence that came out showed Eric was not guilty," said Beck.

District Attorney Judy Newcomb was disappointed.

"Not guilty is not necessarily innocent, and that's all I'm going to comment," said Newcomb.

As for pursuing a different suspect in Wilson's murder, Newcomb said that's not likely.

"It's our position that the evidence in this case led us to Mr. Buzbee. At this time we do not see any reason to reopen the investigation," she added.

After the verdict, Buzbee hugged loved ones, and happily headed home.

"We are absolutely ecstatic and relieved more than anything else. This process has been a long time coming. We had said from day one, they had the wrong guy," Beck said.

FOX10 News tried to speak with Bobby Wilson's family, but they didn't want to comment.

As for Eric Buzbee, he said he plans on relaxing for a bit and going back to work.