Dr. Christopher Thompson is handcuffed by L.A. County Sheriffs after being found guilty on all 7 counts. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times / November 2, 2009)
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LOS ANGELES -- A former emergency room doctor has been found guilty on all counts of deliberately slamming on his car brakes in an apparent effort to injure two bicyclists on Mandeville Canyon Road.
After three hours of deliberations Monday, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury found 60-year-old Christopher Thompson guilty of one count of reckless driving causing specified injury, two counts of battery with serious injury, one count of reckless driving, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (an automobile) and one count of mayhem. On the two assault counts, the jury found true the victims suffered great bodily injury.
Thompson's attorney had characterized the incident as an "unfortunate accident."
However, prosecutors contend Thompson pulled up alongside the cyclists, exchanged angry words, then pulled in front of them and hit the brakes, resulting in "severe and permanent injuries" when he was ejected from his bike and propelled through the windshield.
Cyclist Ron Peterson, who was injured in the July 4 accident when he was catapulted through the rear window of a car driven by Thompson.
His riding partner Christian Stoehr was catapulted over the car, landing on the pavement.
Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them.
Neither of those riders was injured.
Thompson was immediately remanded into custody because the judge felt he was a flight risk.
Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 3. Thompson faces a maximum 10-year state prison term.
After three hours of deliberations Monday, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury found 60-year-old Christopher Thompson guilty of one count of reckless driving causing specified injury, two counts of battery with serious injury, one count of reckless driving, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (an automobile) and one count of mayhem. On the two assault counts, the jury found true the victims suffered great bodily injury.
Thompson's attorney had characterized the incident as an "unfortunate accident."
However, prosecutors contend Thompson pulled up alongside the cyclists, exchanged angry words, then pulled in front of them and hit the brakes, resulting in "severe and permanent injuries" when he was ejected from his bike and propelled through the windshield.
Cyclist Ron Peterson, who was injured in the July 4 accident when he was catapulted through the rear window of a car driven by Thompson.
His riding partner Christian Stoehr was catapulted over the car, landing on the pavement.
Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them.
Neither of those riders was injured.
Thompson was immediately remanded into custody because the judge felt he was a flight risk.
Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 3. Thompson faces a maximum 10-year state prison term.
