‘Honeymoon death’ murder case dismissed against David Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Watson

A judge abruptly dismissed the murder case Thursday against David Gabriel "Gabe" Watson, an Alabama man accused of killing his wife while scuba diving on their Australian honeymoon in 2003.

The decision from Judge Tommy Nail came near the end of the second full week of Watson's murder trial, CNN reported.

Nail dismissed the case "after the state rested its case against Gabe Watson (and) the defense filed a motion for a judgment of acquittal due to a lack of evidence," judicial assistant Ken Glass told CNN.

Watson's dad, Dave Watson, hugged his son after the judge dismissed the case and was conciliatory to Tina's family, according to ABC News.

"I am sorry for the Thomas' family loss. I hope Gabe and our family can now move forward with our lives," Dave Watson said.

Prosecutors had claimed that Gabe Watson had shut off his wife's air supply while scuba diving off of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, then turned the air back on after she had died. The motive, prosecutors claimed, was to collect on her life insurance and her possessions, according to ABC News.

Watson claims his wife panicked and, when he went to help her, she accidentally knocked his mask and regulator off. By the time he recovered, she had drifted out of his reach, ABC News reported.

Watson pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter in Australia for failing to save her and spent 18 months in prison, Birmingham, Ala., TV station WIAT reported.

Alabama tried him for murder, claiming the alleged crime was plotted in the U.S., according to ABC News.

Prosecutor Don Valeska said there is no appeal of the judge's ruling.

"Judge Nail did what he thinks is right. I strongly disagree with him. I'm extremely stunned and at a loss for words," Valeska told ABC News.