Monroe County judge tosses murder charges based on 'disturbing evidence' from detectives

photo 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.

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.

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