Opinion ID: 2056377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial Of James Thompson

Text: Thompson's testimony at Owens's trial was later presented against him at his own trial. The State presented corroborating evidence from criminalist Mark Profili that the blood found on Thompson's pants was type Athe same type as Williar'sand that one of the pubic hairs found on the victim's back matched the sample taken from Thompson. Profili also testified that a pubic hair was found on Colleen Williar that did not match Williar, Thompson, or Owens. Pathologist Dennis Smyth, M.D. testified that semen was found in Williar's vagina and that the sperm were disintegrating, a process that occurs from seven to twenty-four hours after they are deposited. Dr. Smyth explained the sperm disintegration timeline, which inferentially placed the deposit time near Williar's death: They start disintegration almost immediately. They will be undetectable or totally disintegrated in a time span of seven to twenty-four hours. The defense did not present any witnesses. In closing argument, the State told the jury that sperm taken from Williar during the autopsy came from the rapist. The State emphasized that the blood found on Thompson's jeans was the same blood type of Colleen Williar and linked this with testimony that blood of an unspecified type [1] was found on the murder weapon: [T]hat knife is the murder weapon. It is positive for blood. It is consistent with the wound on Colleen Williar's body and also these pants. James Thompson's shorts, if you will. They test positive in this corner of the pocket for a positive blood. That is the blood of Colleen Williar. He said when he got the knife the knife was bloody and he put the knife in his pants. Clearly the blood from the knife. And we know there was blood on the knife. It had seeped onto his shorts and he didn't notice. (Emphasis added.) The prosecutor also linked the burglary, rape, and murder as having been committed by the same persons at the same time: ... Colleen Williar didn't let some man in who came in upstairs, slept with her and then killed her. No. The people who broke the glass in the basement were the same people who came upstairs, forced themselves on her body on her bed and left the glass while they were doing it. The State also pointed to, inter alia, Thompson's confession and the pubic hair match. The defense's closing argument called into question the pubic hair testimony, particularly the hair that did not belong to the victim, did not belong to Thompson, and did not belong to Owens. Defense counsel posed the question Was there a third person? The defense also suggested that Thompson's testimony at Owens's trial was not a confession because Thompson was only saying what the State ... [and] the police wanted him to say. Thompson was convicted of rape, burglary, felony murder, and a weapons offense. He was sentenced to life in prison plus a three-year sentence for the weapons offense. The sentences were merged.