Felix D. Balmaz, 35, of King George County had been charged with malicious wounding and hit- and-run.

He ran over Tennessee resident David "Doughboy" Edwards outside the Ramada Inn in the Four-Mile Fork area following a dispute that started inside the motel.

Prosecutor Dan Clevenger tried to prove that Balmaz's actions were intentional. But defense witnesses said Edwards jumped in front of Balmaz as he was trying to get away from the dispute. Edwards suffered a shattered pelvis.

Judge Joseph E. Spruill Jr. granted defense attorney Mark Murphy's motion to dismiss the charges, agreeing with Murphy that the evidence against Balmaz was insufficient.

Spruill's ruling came just before a jury was to begin deliberating in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

According to testimony, Balmaz, Edwards and friends of both men were at the Ramada Inn Dec. 3 when a dispute surfaced. Edwards and his friends were in town on a construction project.

Someone associated with Edwards made a pass at a woman in Balmaz 's group on the dance floor, according to witnesses.

The disagreement later resumed in the parking lot, as members of both parties left about the same time.

Murphy said someone in Balmaz's car was punched as the group tried to leave. The Tennessee group then drove in front of Balmaz and tried to block him in, witnesses said.

Defense witnesses said Edwards jumped in front of Balmaz "like Superman" as he tried to leave. Balmaz then drove to a pay phone and called for help.

Hurting the prosecution case badly were key witnesses' admission about how intoxicated they were that evening.

Edwards said he drank a 12-pack of beer and smoked three marijuana "joints" before going to the nightclub.

Robert "Bucky" Jackson, Edwards' friend and a key prosecution witness, said he, too, had been drinking and smoking heavily.