WA- Thompson to lawyer: 'You're going to be dead'

9-19-2008 Washington:

SEATTLE -- On the second day of his trial, Curtis Thompson, a level-three sex offender who has already served 18 years for raping four women in 1985, had some words he couldn't wait to say.

Before witnesses testified, and even before the judge had a chance to call in the jury, Thompson, who is charged with ten crimes in connection to the incident, declared he had already begun preparing an appeal.

"Since I'm denied a fair trial in this tribunal, I'm preparing the appellate process," he said.

Prosecutors say in August 2004, Thompson robbed and assaulted two women and beat up an elderly man who tried to intervene at a University District apartment.

In court on Thursday, the prosecutor used diagrams to help witnesses recreate the night of the attack. He also played a tape of the 911 call that alerted police.

Thompson chased the women into the apartment's elevator and tried to sexually assault them, forcing one of the women to take off her blouse, prosecutors said.

"He forced them in, grabbed their bag, and then pushed them in the elevator. We think that two of our girlfriends are in trouble." a 911 caller was heard saying.

That 911 caller took the witness stand and described seeing the victim running from the elevator in tears, without her blouse.

"She was pretty hysterical. She looked like she'd been crying. She didn't have her shirt on," said witness Jennifer Tonumalepea.

Thompson has been stirring up trouble ever since his trial began on Wednesday when he lashed out at the prosecutor, calling him a "liar" and a "punk," and refusing to calm down even as the judge tried to recess the court.

As Thompson was being led out of the courtroom on Thursday, he stared at his own attorney and said, "You're going to be dead." He then let out a profanity-laced rant.

The convicted rapist, who is notorious for resisting the hand of the law, gets strapped to a chair before being brought into, or taken out of the courtroom.

The trial will resume on Monday.

Thompson has two other trials coming up. In November trial begins for his alleged rape of an Eastlake woman in her apartment. The trial for his alleged murder of a disabled woman is slated to begin next year. ..News Source.. by KOMO Staff