Also, only circumstantial evidence was the crux of the prosecutions case. Only circumstantial. There was no blood or dna found because the Spanish Fort Police Department was devoid of any knowledge of how to gather it. I would have called in a forensic team from Mobile if I lacked the ability to gather it. There had to be a tremendous amount of blood and evidence there waiting to be examined but the lack of intelligence to sort through such a plethora of evidence is unconscionable. I feel the police and the prosecution were totally to blame for this fiasco and they should be held accountable.

The sad fact is that the Prosecution in this case failed to do what they were employed to do by the state of Alabama. The unfortunate circumstance that Judy Newcomb stated that they would not re-open this case based on the fact that they knew Eric Buzbee was guilty and that they had no other suspects inline for this is and will be a travesty of justice. That poor family, how they must feel knowing that the person who did this to their father, grand father, husband, brother will never see punishment for their deeds must be the most hollow feeling anyone could ever feel. If there is anything positive that needs to come from this is that the Spanish Fort Police need to be trained in the gathering of evidence, the prosecution severely needs to learn how to try such a case. Justice is something we as tax payers require and to have an official, elected one at that state that they will not attempt any further to find the perpetrator of this crime to me is a scream that our justice system is at best inadequate.

Don’t speak for me either, lillybell.  How does “everyone know” that he did this?  I didn’t sit through this trial so I’m not an expert here, but I’m curious as to what the overwhelming evidence was that warrants this situation to be compared to OJ. 

Wasn’t there nothing but weak circumstantial evidence?  Didn’t they find somebody else’s DNA? Didn’t the jury unanimously (not just by a majority, but ALL of them) decide that he was not guilty?  I don’t see what about this case makes his guilt so obvious…

lillybell
I am part of everyone and you do not have my permission to speak for me. Welcome Home Eric, we have missed you terribly!!

I have mixed emotions concerning this case and have since the start. After so much time had passed after the beating of the store owner, the public outcry began to put pressure on authorities to find a suspect and shortly after the outcry began, suddenly busby was named.  If the jurors found him not guilty so there were obviously some reasons that led to questions of innocence. If it’s without a reasonable doubt they cant “just assume” the rest to make a conviction.  He is either innocent or the prosecutors failed. Either way this guys future is forever tarnished and what if (yes, what if) by chance he really had nothing at all to do with this case? No one really knows except the person who did it.  The real killer could be out there somewhere laughing how he eluded the police and caused this guy to sit in jail for 2 years and nearly destroy his family for kicks and giggles.
My only question is, why close the case if the jurors found him not guilty.  Wouldn’t that be reason enough to admit there’s more work to be done or is it just easier to say we give up?

what an amazing legal system we have in the U.S., everyone knows Buzbee is guilty.  But then again so was OJ and he walked.

Where does he go to get back his good name and reputation. The DA is protected by tort immunity laws so she can’t be sued , unless of course she prosecuted him knowing the case was false. Where will his family recover the $300k plus it cost them to defend him ( luckily they were there ,otherwise he would be executed by now) There has to be a system of loser pay in this country. That will prevent lawyers (and DAs ) from bringing cases unless they are sure they have a solid case of merit. Better to have several guilty people walk free than a single innocent one to be wrongfully convicted. Now the people of Baldwin County have to decide: Do you really want this person as your District Attorney? Election will be coming up soon. That is the earliest you can render your own verdict in this case.