Victory for Hunter Thompson
|
|
Prosecutors asked today for dismissal of charges of drug possession, explosives possession and sexual assault against Hunter S. Thompson, saying their case against the journalist and author was not strong enough. Prosecutors asked today for dismissal of charges of drug possession, explosives possession and sexual assault against Hunter S. Thompson, saying their case against the journalist and author was not strong enough. The motions for dismissal that were filed today and are scheduled to be heard on Thursday in Pitkin County District Court said potential witnesses had not cooperated with the District Attorney’s investigators. A statement by the District Attorney’s Office also said there were discrepancies between sworn testimony at a preliminary hearing on May 22 and previous statements to investigators. The office did not disclose the nature of the discrepancies. Mr. Thompson said in an interview that the decision was ”a huge victory for all of us” and that there would be a ”celebratory orgy” tonight at his favorite hangout, the Woody Creek Tavern in Aspen. Mr. Thompson, 53 years old, was ordered last week to stand trial on June 25 on four felony and three misdemeanor charges. In a preliminary hearing, Judge Charles Buss threw out a felony charge of using cocaine. The charges stemmed from a visit to Mr. Thompson’s home in Woody Creek in February by Gail Palmer-Slater of Port Huron, Mich., an entrepreneur and former actress and producer of pornographic films. She said that Mr. Thompson grabbed her breast and threw a drink at her and that she saw him sniff cocaine. The authorities subsequently searched Mr. Thompson’s home and said they found LSD, cocaine, tranquilizers, marijuana and explosives. Mr. Thompson said the drugs had been left by guests over the years. Mr. Thompson is known for his accounts of political campaigns and shark hunts in Hawaii. Source : query.nytimes.com |