In brief: Thompson’s attorney files motion to acquit

Fri., Nov. 18, 2011

The defense attorney for former Spokane police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. has filed a motion asking the judge to acquit Thompson, saying the government failed to prove its case.

The written motion, which seeks a hearing on Dec. 19, is essentially the same motion attorney Carl Oreskovich made during the four-week trial in Yakima. At that time, U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle denied the request.

“During the course of trial, the government provided no evidence, whatsoever, that … Thompson acted with a bad or evil purpose during his confrontation with (Otto) Zehm,” Oreskovich wrote.

Van Sickle has not yet ruled on Oreskovich’s separate motion to question jurors to see if they were exposed to information barred from Thompson’s felony trial. Thompson faces several years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 27.

Thomas Clouse

Victim identified in Wednesday fire

One of the victims of a fatal fire this week was identified Thursday as Ralph Skjothaug, 71.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office said it’s still trying to determine the cause of death. Identity of the second victim in the Wednesday morning fire at 2002 E. Inland Empire Way was still being withheld pending identification and notification of relatives, authorities said. The fire’s cause was still under investigation.

Staff report

Trial witness resigns as information officer

Spokane police Officer Tim Moses has resigned as a public information officer at the advice of his lawyer.

Moses, who told jurors at Karl Thompson’s trial that the FBI intimidated him into giving false incriminating testimony to a grand jury, has been “under a lot of fire” lately, lawyer Chris Bugbee said Thursday.

“I think he’s a great officer,” Bugbee said.

Moses was given a letter of immunity before testifying at Thompson’s trial. He said he was intimidated into telling the grand jury Thompson said he hit Otto Zehm in the head and neck with a police baton – which would constitute unlawful lethal force.

“I’d like to see him keep his head down,” Bugbee said. “There’s a lot going on right now and I don’t think that he needs to be the one that’s making official statements for either the police department or the (Spokane Police) Guild right now.”

Moses will continue to work as a patrol officer and will remain one of two guild vice presidents, Bugbee said. Meghann M. Cuniff

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