Guilty Verdict Reached In Thompson Trial

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Reporter: Cayle Thompson
Email Address: cayle.thompson@kake.com

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4:45 Update:

The verdict had been read in the Donovan Thompson trial.

Jurors find Thompson guilty of 2nd degree murder and also one count of aggravated battery.

KAKE's Cayle Thompson has been the only reporter in the courtroom all day. Stay with KAKE News & KAKE.com for the latest information.

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4:20pm Update:

A jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of 21-year-old Donovan Thompson. Jurors alerted the judge at 4:15 this afternoon. They deliberated for almost 7 hours today. The verdict will be read in court in the next 30 minutes.

KAKE's Cayle Thompson has been the only reporter in the courtroom all day. Stay with KAKE News & KAKE.com for the latest information.

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9:30am Update:

Prosecutors say 21-year-old Donovan Thompson shot and killed Half-Time Sports Bar owner Teresa Hastings in June of last year. But defense attorney Gary Owen says his client is innocent.

Today, Thompson could learn his fate.

Both sides ended their case with closing arguments this morning. Prosecutors say Thompson, a gang member, went to the bar the night of June 4, 2007, with the intent of killing Hastings. During trial, a witness testified Thompson discussed his plans in advance of the shooting. The witness told authorities Thompson had a .45 caliber gun. At the crime scene, authorities found .45 caliber shell casings.

Other witnesses at the bar that night claim Thompson was seen shooting a gun. When interviewed by police, Thompson admitted to being at the bar, but denied every having a gun or shooting Hastings.

Thompson's defense claims there are many loose connections in the prosecution's story. Gary Owens, Thompson's attorney, says his client was mistakenly identified as the gunman by other gang members wanting to avoid trouble for pointing out the real gunman.

Owens says the prosecution's witnesses are unreliable and claims their stories don't add up. He says investigators failed to follow leads on other suspects, though prosecutors maintain every lead they followed ultimately brought them back to Thompson.

The jury began its deliberations at 9:30 this morning. If convicted, Thompson could face life in prison with no chance at parole for at least 25 years.

Stay with KAKE News and KAKE.com for the latest on a verdict.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 22, 2008 at 11:12 PM
FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO KNOW HE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER, THEN WHY DID YOU NOT BRING THE EVEDINCE FORWARD OR CALL THE DA OFFICE? BUT NOW YOU CAN JUST GO ON THE COMMENTS SECTION AND TELL WHO DID IT. RIGHT? COME ON YOU KNOW JUST ABOUT AS MUCH AS THE JOHN DOE NEXT DOOR!!! YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO COME FORWARD AND BRING YOUR EVEDINCE! SO IF YOU BELIVE HE IS SO INNOCENT THAN BE A BIG BOY/GIRL AND TURN THE OTHER PERSON INN OR STAY QUIET AND SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: wichita on Aug 22, 2008 at 11:03 PM
You know it is so funny how people try to figure out things by themself, people can say what they want to say, but you know what, you will never know! Never know the person Teresa was unless you knew her, Never know her kids, unless you knew them , Never know the people that came into the bar, unless you knew them, SO say what you want to say, have your little mind boggling belives!!! If you came in to the bar you were treated like a PERSON not a gang member, no matter where you came from, there where no gang signs thrown up in the air, no gang talk going on, you where asked to leave if you did. so you know for the people who think thats what the bar was about, I feel sorry for you cause you didn't get the chance to know Teresa or her kids, we lost a awsome lady, a mother,grandmother, and a daughter!!!!! may she rest in peace!!!!!

Posted by: Lesson Learned Location: usa on Aug 19, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Maybe this will be a future lesson to bar owners not to let the drug dealing get started in their clubs. If you don't want gang members in there remove them all don't just pick and chose the one you want in and don't want in. And as for WOO if you knew Woo did it why didn't you come forward and talk? This drug dealing and gang violence will never get under control if we don't start standing up to them. I feel the Defense Attorney and some others went above and beyond to protect the witnesses who had the courage to step up in this trial. Thank You

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:59 AM
It is sad that two families are without their loved ones, but I am glad that Teresa's family can finally have some peace.

Posted by: R. E. S P E. C. T. on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:42 AM
IF you know that Woo killed her, then why did you stay anonymous and not come forward and testify? This is a terrible incident that happened and a lady lost her life that shoudn't have. She had a right to say who could or couldn't come into place of business. If the teenagers had had RESPECT, then none of this would have happened.

Posted by: reason4stereotypes Location: Wichita on Aug 18, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I guess these people pick and choose when they "all look alike." And as far as a innocent..PLEASE! Don't tell me he hasn't earned his jail time. The woman who was killed was the INNOCENT one, trying to run a business. Too bad he didn't shoot the other so called gang members, nothing like natural selection.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 18, 2008 at 07:18 PM
thats crazy he didnt even do that Woo killed her..

Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: USA on Aug 18, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Now that we are sentencing an innocent to murder. What is the lovely DA going to do about the other known gang members that should be charged with at least Aggravated Battery. Let them go free. It is amazing to me how the DA can work hard as hell to prosecute an innocent man of murder but let the other members go free. Yes he did deserve the agg. battery charge but where are the rest of the agg. battery charges. I guess they get to stay on the streets and continue to hurt more people than they already have. If you are gonna prosecute one then prosecute them all.

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