May 16, 2008
Patrick Thompson found Not Guilty!
From CU-IMC - reported by DB - http://ucimc.org/node/2904
BREAKING UPDATE: The jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY for the charges of criminal sexual abuse against Patrick Thompson. After an hour of closing statements by Attorney Kirchner, where he stepped the jury through the significant discrepancies between the stories of the accusers, the police report, and the witnesses, the jury deliberated for about 70 minutes before rendering a "not guilty" verdict. The more serious charges of home invasion were dropped by the judge two days ago in a directed verdict.
Patrick sobbed upon hearing the verdict, later hugging his wife and saying "it's over ... it's over." His attorney, Bob Kirchner, ushered about a twenty supporters out of the courtroom out of respect for the accuser. Supporters, most of whom had been attending parts of the the trial all week, gathered outside the courthouse. Deacon Clayborn and Rev. Underwood repeatedly shouted "Praise the Lord!" while Patrick Thompson and his attorneys gave interviews to the press. Ms. Wyman, who has worked tirelessly on this case for 9 months, looked exhausted as she left the courthouse. "I have to prepare for another case for Monday" she said. One supporter said: "I didn't think justice could be found in Champaign County for a black man accused of a sex crime he did not commit, but today, we saw that it is possible."
