[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Re: [Announce] Home Invasion Charges Dropped!!!

[Ricky Baldwin]

Wow!  Congratulations on this charge being dropped - to Patrick and
everybody who's been working on this case!

Ricky
--- Marti Wilkinson <martiwilki at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm going to be out of town tomorrow, but wanted to let everyone know
> that
> my thoughts are with Patrick...Marti
> 
> On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 6:56 PM, Brian Dolinar
> <briandolinar at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > Wednesday afternoon, after the State rested, defense attorney Bob
> Kirchner
> > argued that they had not proved their case and Judge Clem ruled the
> home
> > invasion charges against Patrick Thompson be dismissed. The charge
> of sexual
> > abuse still stands and proceedings will continue Thursday. But the
> charges
> > of home invasion, carrying a mandatory sentence of 6-30 years, have
> been
> > dropped. Thompson no longer faces a long-term prison sentence.
> >
> > It was an emotional moment, Thompson broke down crying, and after
> recess he
> > rushed to embrace his long-time friend Martel Miller in the
> courtroom.
> > Thompson's supporters were all relieved, but there remains further
> defense
> > witnesses Thursday and a verdict on the sexual abuse charge is
> expected as
> > early as early Thursday afternoon.
> >
> > Wednesday morning, the accuser returned to the stand. After
> questioning by
> > the State, she was cross-examined by Bob Kirchner. He asked about
> the
> > several inconsistent statements made during the four times she
> testified:
> > July 2005, July 2006, September 2007, and the current 2008 trial.
> Before,
> > she had testified that Thompson had trapped her in the laundry
> room. Another
> > time she said she first saw him at the railing in front of his
> apartment.
> > One time she testified that she had her laundry in a basket,
> another time
> > she said she was carrying it in her arms. She had told Urbana
> officer
> > Michael Hediger, and it reads in the police report, that she was
> "yelling"
> > and "screaming" which she did not mention in this week's testimony.
> >
> > When asked about these inconsistencies, the accuser's response was
> the
> > same, "I don't remember," which she stated repeatedly.
> >
> > She was asked if she grabbed an iron that she admitted was nearby
> because
> > she was planning to iron her work uniform. She was asked if she
> attempted to
> > close the bedroom door, or to lock herself in the bathroom and call
> the
> > police on her cell phone which she had with her. Her responses were
> no.
> >
> > Asked about a hand splint that Thompson appears to have been
> wearing at the
> > time, she said she never saw it.
> >
> > Vujovich called other witnesses: Anthony Bates, the accuser's
> boyfriend and
> > co-worker at Provena at the time of the alleged incident; Gary
> Johnson,
> > friend and co-worker; Bessie Ann Cisne and Arlene Mefford, who
> worked at the
> > desk on the 7th floor of Provena where the accuser was a
> housekeeper. They
> > testified that they saw the accuser that morning, "shaking,"
> "crying,"
> > "upset," and "very troubled."
> >
> > After all the State's witnesses testified, Vujovich rested his
> case.
> > Kirchner then motioned for a directed verdict on the two counts,
> arguing
> > that the State had not proved its case on the charges of home
> invasion or
> > sexual abuse.
> >
> > It looked like a long shot. But in a miraculous turn of events,
> Judge Clem
> > allowed Kirchner's motion and dismissed the charge of home
> invasion. Of all
> > things, he ruled that the state had not proven that Patrick
> Thompson was not
> > a police officer!
> >
> > Vujovich attempted to argue that he had not closed his case, but an
> angry
> > Judge Clem said that he would not allow that kind of
> "gamesmanship."
> >
> > Vujovich looked defeated. After recess, he returned to the back of
> the
> > courtroom, sat behind the *News-Gazette*'s Mary Schenk (who decided
> to
> > show up today), and placed his chin on folded arms on the back of a
> chair.
> >
> > Patrick Thompson and his supporters were elated.
> >
> > Returning to court, the defense called two witnesses, Sheriff's
> Deputy
> > Thomas Tarr and jail nurse Susan Fricke, who testified that
> Thompson was
> > wearing a splint on his right hand.
> >
> > The charges of sexual abuse still stand and witnesses will testify
> > beginning Thursday morning at 9 a.m. A verdict could be reached as
> soon as
> > Thursday afternoon.
> > We're calling all CU Citizens for Peace and Justice to come out
> Thursday
> > and show your support for Patrick!
> >
> > Peace, BD
> > --
> > Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
> > 303 W. Locust St.
> > Urbana, IL 61801
> > briandolinar at gmail.com
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Announce at lists.communitycourtwatch.org
> >
> >
>
http://lists.communitycourtwatch.org/listinfo.cgi/announce-communitycourtwatch.org
> >
> >
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