SPOKANE-- Defense attorney for Karl Thompson filed a motion for a new trial Friday.
In the motion, the defense cited that the motion is viable because:
· Jury's verdict not supported by the evidence
· Government misconduct by allowing references made during trial that eluded to Zehm's innocence
· Comments made by jury forewoman Diane Riley (media interviews after the trial, including KREM 2's, which is referenced in the motion) show the jury considered inappropriate extraneous information
· Jury instruction regarding self-defense was inappropriate and focused the jury's attention on Zehm's actions and state of mind, rather than what was perceived by Thompson
The motion is set for a hearing on January 27.
