Joshua “Buddy” Moore almost went to prison for protecting his wife, himself and his livelihood. He shouldn’t be tried again for standing up to a robber.

It’s practically a crime that Moore ever was convicted in the first place of voluntary manslaughter in 2007. He shot and killed a teenager who tried to grab the money box at the produce stand Moore and his wife operated on Raleigh Road.

The death of the teen, Emmanuel Lewis Harris, is tragic. But Moore certainly had no way of knowing how much more of a threat Harris posed to Moore and his wife. Should Moore simply have let Harris run away with his hard-earned money?

An Edgecombe County jury ignored prosecutors’ arguments for first-degree or second-degree murder. There is a legitimate question about Judge Frank Brown’s instructions to the jury. That’s the main reason the N.C. Supreme Court overturned the jury’s verdict and sent the case back to the district attorney’s office.

District Attorney Robert Evans, who wasn’t a prosecutor when Moore was convicted, faces a tough choice. Does he choose to prosecute Moore again for the death of Harris? Or does he recognize Moore’s safety concerns and dismiss the case?

Moore hardly acted as a vigilante. And law-abiding people should have a right to defend themselves when confronted by robbers and assailants.

Moore has paid enough of a price. Drop the case, please, Mr. Evans.