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

[John W.]

Not that my opinion matters so much, but I just want to extend my most 
sincere congratulations to Patrick and his family, and to all those  - 
Martel Miller and VEYA, Brian and the Ammons and everyone in Community 
Court Watch, Attorneys Kirchner and Wyman, etc. - who have worked so hard 
to achieve a measure of justice for Patrick and a measure of accountability 
in the local legal system.  Also to those who work in related fields - to 
Sandra Ahten and the Books to Prisoners group, and to my own hard-working 
colleagues in the Coalition for Citizen Police Review.  You have all shown 
a full measure of courage and perseverance and devotion to the cause.  Love 
and respect to each and every one of you.  I truly do hope that it won't go 
to a third trial.

John Wason



At 03:39 PM 4/24/2007, Brian Dolinar wrote:

>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>http://www.ucimc.org/node/712 and 
><http://www.ucimc.org/node/922>http://www.ucimc.org/node/922
>
>Justice has been served.
>
>BD
>--
>Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
>303 W. Locust St.
>Urbana, IL 61801
><mailto:briandolinar at gmail.com>briandolinar at gmail.com
>
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