Milton Dudley, 23, was sentenced to life in prison April 14 after pleading guilty to felony murder for the 1997 death of Brian Tribble, according to an article in The Birmingham News.
Tribble, the father of four, was minister of music at Centercrest Baptist Church, Center Point. According to the article, the 36-year-old surprised Dudley as he broke into a drink machine at the church early Oct. 3. Dudley shot Tribble twice in the hallway of the church.
Tribble was at the church to make breakfast for a group of men leaving for a Promise Keepers rally.
The News reported the prosecutors offered a deal because police never recovered a murder weapon, and there were no fingerprints found. Also, there wasn’t enough blood on Dudley’s pants to make a good DNA match, and a bullet found at the crime scene was lost while being examined.
“I am absolutely convinced he did it, but I’m not sure the evidence that is available to us would convince the jury,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Roger Brown.
Dudley’s attorney said he wanted to avoid a jury trial because of the gamble “of the sentiment of the public of who the deceased was.”
The News noted Tribble’s relatives said the plea agreement spared them the agony of a trial.
Tribble’s widow, Roxanne Tribble-Saffles, has remarried and now lives in St. Clair County. (TAB)
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