HURON, S.D. (AP) - A Huron police officer and a forensic
pathologist were the first prosecution witnesses Tuesday in the
trial of a South Dakota man who has pleaded not guilty to murder by
reason of insanity.
Edwin Thompson is charged with second-degree murder. He's
accused of stomping on 21-year-old Ryan Treadway during a fight in
Huron in November 2009, causing fatal head injuries.
A jury of six men and seven women were seated Tuesday.
A judge late last year ruled Thompson was mentally competent to
stand trial after experts said his schizophrenic paranoia had
improved with medication. He could face life in prison without
parole if convicted.
The defense says it will show that Thompson was insane at the
time of the killing. Prosecutors say Thompson was sane.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-06-28-11 1904EDT
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