Murder charge is dismissed

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 15, 2000

TAMPA -- Citing a lack of evidence, a judge has dismissed the first-degree murder charge against 26-year-old Earl Bernard Mason.

Mason was arrested in April, seven months after Susan Cox, 39, was beaten to death in her apartment at 9606 N 46th St. Mason's fingerprint was found in the apartment, but prosecutors could not establish that the print was left during the killing, which is their legal burden. They did not have any other substantial evidence. Circuit Judge Daniel Perry agreed with a motion from the Public Defender's Office that the case should be dismissed. Mason remains in the Hillsborough County Jail on a drug charge.

For Mason, the murder arrest was the latest and most serious in a long string of charges dating to 1993. On 12 other occasions, he has been charged with crimes that include battery, aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, delivery and possession of cocaine and crack, and driving under the influence.

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