TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The Latest on the murder trial of a former Tucson fire captain (all times local):
4:25 p.m.
The jury was not able to reach a verdict in the murder trial against a former Tucson fire captain accused in three cold-case killings.
The jury was hung on the trial against David Watson, a longtime Tucson firefighter who has since retired. Watson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. He had pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said he killed Linda Watson in 2000 during a bitter custody battle. Her body was found in the desert in 2003 but wasn’t identified until 2011.
Watson was also accused of killing his former mother-in-law and her friend following a legal battle over grandparent visitation rights.
The defense said there was no evidence tying Watson to the killings.
3:46 p.m.
Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of a former Tucson firefighter accused of killing his ex-wife, her mother and her mother’s friend.
The verdict will be announced shortly on Tuesday afternoon.
Former fire captain David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in 2000. He is also charged in the 2003 shooting deaths of Linda Watson’s mother, Marilyn Cox, and her friend.
Prosecutors said Watson was motivated to kill Linda Watson by a desire to have full-custody of their daughter during a bitter divorce. They also said Watson shot Cox and her friend during a legal battle over grandparent visitation rights.
The defense said Watson was innocent and that there wasn’t enough evidence to tie him to the killings.
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Jurors continue to deliberate in the trial of a former Tucson fire captain accused of three cold-case killings.
A Pima County Superior Court jury in David Watson’s trial resumed deliberations Tuesday morning after deliberating Friday and Monday without reaching a verdict.
Watson is accused of killing his first ex-wife, Linda Watson, in 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mother’s friend three years later.
Prosecutors say the killings were tied to David Watson’s desire to keep full custody of his daughter with Linda Watson.
The woman’s skull was found in the desert in 2003, but wasn’t identified until 2011.
Linda Watson’s mother, Marilyn Cox, and her friend were fatally shot in 2003.
Prosecutors say Cox was embroiled in a legal battle over visitation rights with her granddaughter.
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