A Houston judge on Tuesday invalidated a jury's guilty verdict in a murder trial and reversed a life sentence he handed down after hearing that a witness who might have cleared the defendant did not testify at trial.

State District Judge Kevin Fine granted a new trial for Jeremy Thomas "in the interest of justice" after presiding over the original trial earlier this year and sentencing the 24-year-old to life in prison.

Thomas was convicted in March of killing Vernon Moses. Moses, 42, died from gunshots after arguing with two men outside an apartment complex Aug. 3, 2006.

Thomas' trial attorney, Murray Newman, argued unsuccessfully that the murder was committed by one man, Carnell Meredith. Meredith pleaded guilty in 2008 in exchange for a 10-year jail sentence.

Prosecutors argued that Meredith was a party to the murder, but that Thomas killed Moses. They called two witnesses who testified Thomas was the shooter.

In open court Tuesday, Fine said he doubted those two witnesses, Newman said.

"Fine put on the record that he still had doubts and that his sentence was excessive," Newman said.

He also said the judge regretted the sentence he handed down.

"Fine stated on the record that immediately after giving his sentence, he second-guessed himself," Newman said.

Fine could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Fine heard that a witness, who was available to both sides during trial but not called, would have testified that Thomas was not the shooter, Newman said.

Newman would not comment on why he did not call the female witness, citing attorney-client privilege.

Sarah Wood, an appellate attorney representing Thomas in Tuesday's hearing, said she did not know why Newman did not call an available witness who might have cleared his client.

"Lawyers have to make very difficult strategic decisions on very short notice everyday," Wood said. "Sometimes those decisions turn out well, sometimes they don't."

She said she did not file a motion for ineffective assistance of counsel, but instead asked for a retrial "in the interest of justice."

"The judge decided that, at this point, it should not be about any sort of blame game," Wood said.

She said she was surprised by the ruling.

"It's very unusual, highly unusual," Wood said. "I didn't expect to win, even though it's absolutely the right decision."

The ruling also surprised courthouse observers.

"I'd say it is very, very rare," said University of Houston law professor Adam Gershowitz.

Gershowitz said Newman, an experienced attorney, probably had a good reason he did not call the witness.

Wood said a brief window for judges to reverse themselves for compelling reasons ultimately saves resources because the case does not wind its way through the appellate process.

"It's not a finding of innocence," Wood said. "It's just a finding that if jurors had heard this new evidence, maybe they wouldn't have been convinced beyond a reasonable doubt."

Prosecutors said they were deeply disappointed .

"The defense attorney at trial is seasoned and skilled," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Mia Magness by email. "I am certain his decision not to call the witness was well thought out and strategic."

She said jurors heard all the evidence and were confident in their verdict.

Magness noted that prosecutors had to inform the victim's family of the result. "Understandably, they are devastated and do not believe 'interests of justice' were served."

Prosecutors subpoenaed Newman who testified. He refused to divulge any information that would violate the attorney-client privilege.

brian.rogers@chron.com