The results

of new tests gave Fulton County prosecutors the momentum to present a

grand jury with evidence Tuesday that Jim Watson killed his wife, Beverley,

according to officials.

But the indictment

handed down by the grand jury also indicated what investigators still

don't know how Beverley Watson died.

According to

the indictment, Jim Watson is accused of murdering his wife "by a

method which is unknown to the grand jury at this time."

Watson's attorney,

Lee Sexton, said a medical examiner told him there was no way to tell

whether Beverley Watson died of foul play or natural causes. Sexton also

contested whether there was any "new" evidence.

Sexton has

also approached Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to negotiate

a bond for Watson so he may be released from custody until the case is

resolved.

The case is

in Fulton County's jurisdiction because Beverley Watson's remains were

discovered in a wooded area in rural south Fulton County near Fairburn

in early 1999, over two years after her disappearance.

The remains

were tested at the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, but after

the tests they were released to Jim Watson because no hold had been placed

on the "evidence."

Watson had

his wife's remains cremated before authorities found out about the glitch

in the investigation.

The nature

of the tests and their results was not released by the Fulton County District

Attorney's Office. But a spokesman confirmed that the case was bolstered

recently by the test results.

"I know

going forward was the result of new evidence from additional tests that

have been done," said spokesman Erik Friedly. "There has been

a lot of work on this case in the last several months which allowed us

to go forward. We definitely have more now than in the past."

Sexton claimed

there was no new evidence and that the material presented to the grand

jury was "rehashed evidence." Watson maintains his innocence

in the case, Sexton said.

Watson originally

told police his wife left the house Jan. 18, 1997 after they argued over

their impending separation.

Watson's case

has been assigned to Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford,

Friedly said. If there is any new evidence in the case, it will be shared

with Sexton when the district attorney's office files its discovery once

Watson is arraigned.

The couple's

son and daughter, who have been living with Jim Watson, have stayed with

his relatives since his arrest, Sexton confirmed.

Watson, a former

part-time narcotics officer for the Riverdale Police Department, was arrested

staked out the house Tuesday awaiting word on the grand jury decision.

Sexton complained

that detectives tried to question Watson although they already knew he

was represented by an attorney.

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