Hell's Angel Robert Thompson To Go On Trial For Double Homicide
Greg Carr
Print This Article
Posted on Thu, Aug. 16, 2007
October trial set for suspect in '86 slaying of Atwater girls
By CORINNE REILLY
MERCED SUN-STAR
last updated: August 16, 2007 03:06:02 AM
Twenty years, 10 months and 16 days after a farmer discovered the bludgeoned
bodies of two Atwater girls in the brush along a country road, the man
accused of the murders is scheduled to go to trial.
A judge this week scheduled Robert Daniel Thompson's trial for Oct. 29.
Thompson, 42, was arrested a year ago and charged with the killings of
Sheila Carter, 15, and Jodi Ragsdale, 12. Authorities questioned Thompson 20
years ago, but didn't arrest him until they said new DNA evidence linked him
to the murders.
The prosecution and defense are scheduled to meet Sept. 10 to discuss a
range of pre-trial issues. Prosecutors could declare then whether they'll
seek the death penalty.
Thompson's attorney, Randy Thomas, said Wednesday he is prepared for trial.
In a July preliminary hearing, Thomas argued that an ex-boyfriend of one of
the victims is to blame for the killings, not Thompson.
Thomas said it's uncertain whether he'll make the same argument during the
trial. "I don't have to prove anything. The burden is on the prosecution. So
what I may or may not do in court depends on what evidence (the prosecution)
presents. So we'll have to wait and see."
Thomas said his client is innocent and that he feels confident a jury will
agree.
"Mr. Thompson is anxious for the facts to come before a jury," he said.
Prosecutor Dave Moranda said he'll be prepared for the trial by October but
declined further comment.
At the preliminary hearing, Moranda argued that Thompson - a reputed Hells
Angels member who was convicted of abducting a 26-year-old woman shortly
after the girls' deaths - beat the girls to death with a car jack.
Witnesses for the prosecution testified that Thompson was friends with the
girls, that he was spotted with them hours before their deaths, that he came
home that morning with blood on his clothes and hands, and that he had
expressed fear that police would connect him with the murders.
Sheila's mother, Pat Gulnac, has said she hopes Thompson receives the death
penalty for the killings. Jodi's mother, Fay Ragsdale, died in 1988. None of
the girls' family members could be reached for comment Wednesday.
The girls' bodies were discovered the morning of Dec. 13, 1986, along the
shoulder of Campodonica Road near Alves Road in Cressey. Authorities said
the girls were supposed to be spending the night at an Atwater home where
they were baby-sitting, but that they went out for a joy ride in a borrowed
car.
Merced County coroner's officials determined they were not sexually
assaulted and died from blows to the head.
Thompson was 21 and lived in Winton at the time of the killings. He was
sentenced in 1987 to 14 years in prison for the abduction of the
26-year-old. He served seven years but was returned to prison several times
for parole violations, officials said. He was last released in 1998.
At the time of his arrest, he was living in Crescent City, about 450 miles
north of Modesto, near the Oregon border, where he was working as a
landscaper. He is married and has four children.
Thompson has been held without bail at Merced County's main jail since his
arrest.
http://www.modbee.com/local/v-print/story/44074.html
Also http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/13842962p-14416510c.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA
is involved with
extortion, homicide, kidnapping, prostitution, meth and cocaine
dealing, rape, armed robbery and motorcycle theft and child
pornography
as well as phoney currency and witness intimidation and obstruction of
justice. They have been known to bribe and scare law enforcement
officers and judges into doing their bidding. These ppl must be
rooted
out of the Cdn justice system. Two judges have actually done their
job
and declared HAMC a criminal org and the Victoria Times-Colonist is
calling for it to be banned as a terrorist org.
The White Rock chapter Sgt.Of Arms, Villy Roy Lynnerup, recently was
arrested for trying to board an airplane at YVR
with a loaded firearm. Was probably going to crash the plane into the
Downtown courthouse or hold the passengers hostage in exchange for
the
release of Moms Boucher and all imprisoned full patch members. All
the
Hell's Angels, their supporters, associates etc. should be imprisoned
for twenty years
their children put in foster care and their assets seized.
Ppl are trying to get HAMC listed as a terrorist org. If you support this
then write letters to editors of local newspapers and your local MP.
As well John Les the solicitor-general of BC has advocated banning
the wearing of gang colours such as biker patches in bars. Since HA
is
known to frequent the College Place and the Cecil and has links to
various bars in BC that would be an improvement. The gang has a
history of intimidating
bartenders, infiltrating unions involved in the bar industry, beating
and killing strippers and beating customers to death at random for no
reason. Contact your MLA as well as the local media and tell them you
want this implemented sooner rather than later.
VPD is appealing again for info about the homicide of Maria Yvette
Monzon who was shot dead on the westside of Vancouver. She was killed
by HA but the police have never stated that. There is a reward.
Art Hanger the chair of the Justice Committee can be contacted at:
Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6 (No postage required.)
Telephone: (613) 947-4487
Fax: (613) 947-4490
EMail: Hang...@parl.gc.ca
Web Site:* www.arthangermp.com/
Preferred Language: English Constituency Offices
2635 - 37th Avenue NE, Suite 140
Calgary, Alberta
T1Y 5Z6
Telephone: (403) 291-0018
Fax: (403) 291-9516
