|
But relatives and friends of the victims offered no forgiveness
at the hearing. Instead, they attacked Thompson for waiting
until his sentencing to admit his crimes and putting their
families through two criminal trials.
A state court jury convicted the 29-year-old from the
Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park of third-degree murder and
vehicular homicide for the June 2023 crash that killed Salma
Abdikadir, Siham Adam, Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade and Sagal
Hersi. His defense claimed during the trial that Thompson was
not the driver of an SUV that ran a red light and plowed into a
Honda Civic.
The victims, between 17 and 20 years old, were on their way home
from preparations for a friend’s wedding. Their deaths sparked
sorrow and outrage in Minnesota’s sizable Somali American
community.
“I hope reality suffocates you for the rest of your life,“ said
Sundus Odhowa, Siham Adam’s older sister. ”You should never know
freedom again. You should never know peace.”
Authorities say Thompson was driving a rented Cadillac Escalade
SUV at more than 100 mph (160 kph) down a freeway in Minneapolis
before exiting, blowing through the red light and smashing into
the sedan in which the young women were riding.
Minnesota inmates typically serve two-thirds of their sentences
in prison and one-third on supervised release. With credit for
767 days of time already served, Thompson could go free in about
37 years. Thompson, who already had a felony record, was
convicted separately in November on federal drug and firearms
charges. He's still awaiting sentencing on those counts.
Thompson is the son of a former Democratic state representative
from St. Paul who was sharply critical of police during his one
term in office.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
