BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon filed motions late Monday asking for a continuance if she decides to retry the Stephen Nodine murder case, and stated she would prefer to try the case in Baldwin County.

Dixon said she was reviewing the case and gathering supplemental information.

“Addition time is required to ensure that all possible information and evidence is scrutinized and fully vetted to reach the correct decision regarding whether to retry this case,” the motion states.

Circuit Judge Charles Partin previously set Feb. 28 as the retrial date.

In a second motion, Dixon stated she would prefer to try the case in Baldwin County, but if Partin calls for a change of venue, she cited Lee and Houston counties as possible sites, based on sufficient population for a jury pool, low lodging prices and locations away from the Interstate 65 corridor.

Dixon said media coverage “saturated” the potential jury pool in Baldwin and neighboring counties before and during the December trial. However she said she does not believe the Baldwin County jury pool has been biased by publicity.

She also noted that “tweets” almost instantaneously provided detailed descriptions of court proceedings, as well as commentaries.

“Should the state move forward with the prosecution of this case in Baldwin County, it would be a disservice to everyone involved to seek and obtain a conviction and then have the conviction overturned by an appellate court because the appellate court determined the media saturation did create a bias in the jury panel,” she stated.

Dixon, a deputy chief assistant DA and two investigators left for Georgia Monday to meet with Dr. James Downs, the paid forensics expert who testified against Nodine in the December trial.

Dixon also said she plans to meet with Downs’ family members in Georgia if they are available, according to a press release. Dixon met last week with members of Downs’ family who live in Baldwin County.

Dixon said she visited the Gulf Shores condominium Thursday where Downs’ body was discovered.

“We have also interviewed two experts who have agreed to consult with our prosecution team at no charge,” Dixon stated.

Nodine’s December murder trial resulted in a hung jury. He was convicted of an ethics violation related to personal use of a Mobile County vehicle.