[Peace-discuss] NEW TRIAL GRANTED FOR PATRICK THOMPSON!!!

[Brian Dolinar]

***NEW TRIAL GRANTED FOR PATRICK THOMPSON!!!*

On April 24, 2007 Judge Clem handed down a decision to grant Patrick
Thompson a new trial.  This could result in a third trial.  Thompson's
supporters demand that Special Prosecutor Michael Vujovich drop all charges
and not spend one more cent of taxpayer money on this flimsy case.

In July 2006, Thomspon was found guilty of home invasion and sexual abuse.
A 2005 trial in which Thompson defended himself pro se had ended in a
mistrial.  The charges Thomspon was found guilty of carry a sentence of 6-30
years.  Thompson's supporters say the state never presented any evidence or
witnesses, and that this case was a retribution for his political activism.


VEYA co-founders Patrick Thompson and Martel Miller also currently have a
$15 million law suit against the police departments of Champaign and Urbana,
as well as the Sheriff's Department and the administration of the previous
State's Attorney, for illegally pursuing charges of felony
eavesdropping.  Thompson
and Miller were videotaping police in 2004 and out of their footage produced
the documentary *Citizen's Watch*.  The day after the first eavesdropping
charges were filed, Thompson was accused of sexual abuse and home invasion
by a neighbor and arrested by Urbana police.

After Thompson was found guilty in July 2006, attorneys Bob Kirchner and
Ruth Wyman took up his case.  They filed a 90 page motion for a new trial,
backed up by 800 examples of case law.  Additional witnesses also testified
in two days of court hearings.  The basis of the request for a new trial was
ineffective counsel, contradictory statements made by the accuser, and
additional evidence that has not been heard by a jury.

Kirchner and Wyman are to be commended for their heroic efforts to save
Thompson from being framed by local police and court authorities.

The Thompson family is very happy with the decision.  But they should not
have to live one more day with the threat of a third trial.

Special Prosecutor Vujovich should DROP ALL CHARGES!

For coverage of the post-trial hearings see:

http://www.ucimc.org/node/712 and http://www.ucimc.org/node/922

Justice has been served.

BD
-- 
Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
303 W. Locust St.
Urbana, IL 61801
briandolinar at gmail.com
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