UPDATE: The last time legal fees were approved by the Federal Court for the Karl
Thompson case was in April. The federal taxpayers are paying for his
defense in the criminal case. Through today the approved fees you have
paid are more than $500,000. More fees will be approved at a later date.
PREVIOUS STORY:
SPOKANE, Wash.- On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Fred Van Sickle denied Karl Thompson's request for a new trial. In late 2011, Thompson was convicted of using excessive force and then lying to investigators.
The allegations stem from a confrontation he had with Otto Zehm back in 2006. Zehm was suspected of robbery when Thompson confronted him in a N. Spokane Zip Trip. Zehm was beaten, hog-tied, tased, and arrested. He later died as a result of his injuries.
In early 2012, Thompson's defense team, led by public defender Carl Oreskovich, filed a motion for a new trial. That request was based on allegations of juror misconduct, among other things. On Tuesday, Judge Van Sickle ruled there was not enough evidence of misconduct to warrant a new trial.
On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Van Sickle also denied the defense's motion to dismiss the charges against Karl Thompson altogether.
Check back for more information on this case, as it comes into the newsroom
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