Derrick Thompson on trial, blaming the brother

The state trial of Derrick John Thompson, now age 29, in the June 16, 2023, horrific car crash deaths of five young women on Lake St. in Minneapolis is underway.

KARE-11 TV posted a video of the opening statements in the case, delivered this afternoon (Thursday).

Thompson is accused of crashing his rented Cadillac Escalade into the victims’ Honda that Friday night. He is charged with fifteen (15) felony counts, three for each victim.

In the above video (28:06 mark), Thompson’s defense lawyer insinuates that it was not Thompson behind the wheel of the Escalade when the crash occurred. He may suggest at some point that it was Thompson’s older brother, Damarco John Thompson, driving the Cadillac. Or at least the lawyer will assert that the state has not proven it was Derrick (rather than Demarco) behind the wheel.

Last fall, Derrick was convicted in federal court on felony and gun charges arising from that same car crash. In that trial, he asserted that Demarco was the passenger that night and possessed the gun and drugs.

The jury will not learn of this inconsistency in Derrick’s story, as the judge has barred any mention of the gun, the drugs, or the earlier federal trial. The jury will also not hear of an earlier California car crash, for which Derrick was imprisoned.

Developing…