Attempted murder case dismissed in Baldwin County after victim fails to appear

BAY MINETTE, Alabama -- A case against a Daphne man accused in a September 2010 drive-by shooting in the Daphmont community has been dismissed.

Julien D. Hardin

Julien D. Hardin was facing charges of attempted murder, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment and was scheduled for a jury trial last week in Baldwin County Circuit Court. But Judge Charles Partin on Sept. 12 granted a defense motion for dismissal.
"The alleged victim didn’t show up for trial and we moved for a dismissal for want of prosecution. The judge granted my motion," said defense attorney Pascal Bruijn.
The victim, who was the only witness to the crime, couldn’t be located, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
According to police reports, the victim had said he was walking along Gaskin Lane in Daphne when a vehicle pulled up beside him then left. It returned with Hardin leaning out and opening fire, striking the victim in the leg, police said.