[Peace] Day Two of the Thompson Trial

[Brian Dolinar]

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, an all-white jury was chosen for the third trial of
Patrick Thompson. Opening arguments were made. The State's first witness was
Urbana officer Michael Hediger, who described answering a call the morning
of August 24, 2008. He arrived at Provena, where the accuser was working and
found her in a supply closet. She was crying, gasping for breath, and
visibly shaking. Upon cross examination, Hediger admitted he did not take
fingerprints, photograph the crime scene, collect hairs, conduct interviews,
or check the accuser for scratches and bruises.

In 2006, members of CU Citizens for Peace and Justice spoke with Urbana
Police Chief Mike Bily, who was kind enough to have a meeting with us. We
asked Chief Bily if it was police protocol in a serious crime, such as this
one, to collect fingerprints, photo the crime scene, and conduct a full
investigation. He said yes, it was.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the accuser took the stand and again told her
account of how Thompson, shirtless, entered her apartment, grabbed and
assaulted her. In police reports, she told officer Hediger that she was
yelling and screaming, yet in the previous two trials neighbors said they
heard nothing.

When Vujovich began to inquire about her tone during the alleged incident,
she said, "I don't know how to explain it." She then began crying. Although
she has testified several times previously and four years have passed since
the alleged incident, for the first time trial proceedings had to be stopped
and the jury escorted out of the courtroom. A woman in the front row of the
jury box was seen crying.

Testimony from the accuser and cross-examination will continue Wednesday
morning at 9 a.m. in Courtroom A.

BD

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