Gabe Watson murder trial delayed Peter Mitchell
April 8, 2011 - 8:14AM
An Alabama judge has announced Gabe Watson's murder trial will not go ahead in May because savage budget cuts to the state's court system have raised security concerns.
Alabama courthouses are suffering from forced layoffs of court staff, including security personnel, following $US120 million ($A115.17 million) being stripped from the budget.
Judge Tommy Nail surprised prosecutors and Watson's legal team on Thursday when he announced the May 23 trial in Birmingham, Alabama, would be pushed back to August or later in the year because there would not be enough security personnel to man his courtroom.
Judge Nail said if he went ahead with Watson's trial he would have to shut every other courtroom in the Jefferson County complex because of cuts to the number of bailiffs in the complex.
"We never asked for it to be put off, but we understand it," prosecutor Don Valeska told AAP.
"The judge didn't do it for any other reason other than concerns for safety.
"They have to lay off 53 people by May 1 from the courthouse."
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Gabe Watson murder trial delayed