From the Vacaville Reporter:
Found guilty of first-degree murder by a Solano County Superior Court jury Wednesday, ex-con Tommy Thompson of West Sacramento now faces life in prison for the knife slaying of a Fairfield store clerk three years ago.
The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated less than five hours before returning the guilty verdict for the March 29, 2006, stabbing death of 26-year-old Taneka Talley inside the Dollar Tree store on North Texas Street. Exact motive was never determined in the apparently unprovoked attack, which occurred within 40 seconds of Thompson setting foot inside the discount store.
In handing down their verdict, jurors also ruled that Thompson was armed with and used a knife in the commission of the crime.
Following the verdict, Superior Court Judge Donna Stashyn set 9 a.m. May 21 for judgment and sentencing in the case. Thompson faces a maximum 51-years-to-life prison sentence for the slaying.
Thompson's defense attorney, Deputy Public Defender Robert Boyle, told the court he anticipated filing a motion for a new trial in the case. That motion also will be heard May 21.
Click here to read the full Reporter story.
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