3 days ago
Jury reaches verdict in trial of Derrick Thompson, accused of killing 5 women in crash
A jury has reached a verdict for a man accused of killing five young women in a crash in June of 2023, when he allegedly blew through a red light in south Minneapolis.
Prosecutors alleged that Derrick Thompson, 32, drew the attention of state trooper on Interstate 35W by driving a rented Cadillac erratically at more than 100 mph.
He was charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide.
Closing arguments began Thursday morning, and the jury was handed the case soon after. The jury deliberated Thursday afternoon before returning at 11 a.m. Friday. The verdict will be read around 2:50 p.m. Friday.
Derrick Thompson
WCCO
During the trial, the jury heard from a Minnesota state trooper who said he noticed an SUV weaving in and out of traffic lanes.
Body camera footage from the scene of the crash showed a state trooper approaching the SUV Derrick Thompson was accused of driving. He then described the car that the five women were in at the time of the crash.
"You couldn't recognize it," Minnesota State Trooper Vincent Wren said. "It didn't look much like a car at that point."
Jurors were also shown video of the moment police caught up with Derrick Thompson after the crash. A witness had reported seeing him run from the scene.
"Please tell them it is not me," Derrick Thompson said in a body camera video from a Minneapolis police officer. "I'm 6'5'', it's not hard for me to be missed. My hair is not blonde. My hair is red. Please tell them that this is not me."
Several family members of the victims also testified during the five-day trial.
Gesaade's sister, Rukia Gesaade, told the courtroom that Sahra wanted to become a doctor one day.
"She was like everything, a mentor, built-in best friend. She was a very smart person," Rukia Gesaade said.
Derrick Thompson's defense team, however, argued that he wasn't behind the wheel at the time. Instead they alleged it was his brother, who hasn't been charged in connection to the case.
Demarco Thompson, 32, testified that he drove his brother to the airport to rent a car on the day of the deadly crash. They then drove in their separate vehicles from the airport, Demarco Thompson said.
Damarco Thompson said when his brother drove off, there was nobody else in the SUV. He also said at no point during the day did he drive the SUV.
During cross-examination, Damarco Thompson denied being in the Cadillac during the crash. He said he was only inside the Cadillac briefly at the airport.
This story will be updated.
