Attempted murder charge dropped

RIPLEY -- The Halls man charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to poison his pregnant girlfriend during an assault to force an abortion faces a single charge of simple assault after a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

David R. Ford, 30, did not take the stand in the hearing. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, but the prosecution dismissed the charge at the beginning of the hearing. Lauderdale County General Sessions Judge Janice Craig found the prosecution failed to offer enough proof Ford attempted to procure a criminal miscarriage.

The aggravated assault charge was lessened to a simple assault.

The rest of this article can be read by subscribing to the State Gazette. Please call 731.285.4091 to start your subscription today!