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John Edward Dawson smiles in Monroe County Criminal Court in July after a judge dismissed murder charges against him. A key prosecution witness testified that he was coached to lie to obtain an indictment against Dawson in the 2006 killing of Sweetwater, Tenn., businessman Troy Green.Photo by Jake Daniels.
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. — A judge has dismissed a murder charge against a Sweetwater, Tenn., man based on what she called “disturbing evidence” about
Judge Amy Reedy dismissed the charges against John Edward Dawson after the main witness, Monty Cox, who the prosecution had said bought a gun from Dawson that belonged to the dead man, got on the stand and said he lied at the behest of Monroe detectives.
Dawson was indicted in 2010 in the 2006 shooting of Sweetwater businessman Troy Green.
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in July 2011 that the 10th Judicial District’s misconduct in a previous case involving Dawson was so “reprehensible” and “unconscionable” that the 10th District could not be allowed to try him on the murder charge, so Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox acted as special prosecutor in the case.
Cox didn't object to defense attorney Brian Nichols' motion to dismiss the murder indictment.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
Judy Walton has worked 25 years at the Chattanooga Times and the Times Free Press as an editor and reporter focusing on government coverage and investigations. At various times she has been an assistant metro editor, region reporter and editor, county government reporter, government-beat team leader, features editor and page designer. Originally from California, Walton was brought up in a military family and attended a dozen schools across the country. She earned a journalism degree ...
