Road Rage Dr. Thompson Arraigned on 7 Counts (Updated)

Stephen Box spent the morning at the La Cienega Courthouse to bring us the news on the progress of the trial for Dr. Christopher Thompson, the "road-rage" doctor that allegedly tried to kill a pair of experienced cyclists on July 4th for riding two abreast on a two-lane road. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the story, click here for all the details. For those that want to read about the charges Thompson will face, read on.

Via Soap Box LA:

Thompson will return to court on February 23, 2009 when his attorney, Peter Swarth, is expected to enter a motion to dismiss the charges which are: 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, 2 counts of battery with serious bodily injury, reckless driving, reckless driving causing specified injury and mayhem.

Deputy District Attorney Mary Stone moved swiftly, entering the charges and asking the Judge to order Thompson to surrender his passport. The Judge set bail at $100 thousand and directed Thompson to turn over his passport, giving him until Tuesday to retrieve it from storage.

As in the past, Thompson appeared in court with his entourage, a group that only served to draw attention in an otherwise quiet and routine day at the La Cienega Airport Courthouse.

The trial date is set for March 6, 2010, almost 2 years after the July 4 weekend incident that set this journey in motion. Thompson is alleged to have pulled his car in front of 2 cyclists, slamming on his brakes, causing one cyclist to hit the ground while the other cyclist went throuth the rear window.

Update: The trial will actually be held within 10 days of March 6 of this year. The legal term is "0 of 10" for March 6, so you can see where the confusion came from. Thanks to Gary Kavanaugh for the correction.

KateNonymous

Two years?
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/ubrayj02 Umberto Brayj

Wow. Mob justice actually seems like it might have been a better answer than leaving the fate of the Mad Doctor of Mandeville Canyon up to the courts.

I never thought I’d feel that way, but two years for this guy to frolic and continue driving on Mandeville Canyon Road is … well, it’s an injustice.
crankarm

They say justice delayed is justice denied. Americans were granted the right to a speedy trial so they wouldn’t be left to rot indefinitely in jail without their case being heard. Now the accused waives his right and loiters around on bail indefinitely while the victims of crimes (all crimes, not just Dr. Thompson’s) get to linger without resolution. Two years for a trial date is obscene.
http://walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/ Andy B from Jersey

Hey at least they actually charged him!

Assault with a deadly weapon is a serious charge and very appropriate but attempted murder may have also been warranted.
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/aliostuni aliostuni

Is there any update on how the victims are doing? Doesn’t this merit an attempted homicide charge?
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/GarySe7en Gary Kavanagh

Whoa whoah woah, the LA now post I first read that broke the story said March 6th with no year, which I thought to imply it was March 6th this year. Are they really pushing this back 2 years, what the hell!!
skunk_cabbage

two years or two weeks, it makes no difference, really. Dr Thompson should rot in the slammer until his trial takes place… and for many, many years afterward. General populatiom, not some country club sentence, either.
Jim

Any more news? It’s now March 9… tick, tock.
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/Damien/ Damien Newton

No news, but I should have some soon, within ten working days of the 6th, so that would be the 20th? I’ll check around.
Rob

no, no, no – the trial date is in 2010, y’all. That’s what everyone was bitchin’ about above ..
NO NO NO

Rob, no it isn’t. See the update. The trial is NOT scheduled for 2010.
Jim

The court date was continued. No new date set.