Thursday, May 9, 2013
Lawrence Gaines found guilty of killing William Thompson last summer in Easton.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, May 9
A Northampton County jury has found Lawrence Gaines guilty of first-degree murder in last year's stabbing of William Thompson, according to published reports. Jurors deliberated for about four hours Thursday afternoon before delivering their verdict, the Express-Times reported. Under state law, a first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison. The verdict means jurors accepted the prosecution's argument that Gaines, 45, was the aggressor when he stabbed Thompson, 43, of Easton during a fight on July 3, 2013 on Ferry Street. Gaines' attorney had argued his client acted in self-defense after Thompson—also known as "Poncho"— hit Gaines with a piece of wood. "It took a knife to save that man's life," defense …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Jurors could begin deliberating Thursday about fate of Lawrence Gaines in 2012 homicide.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Wednesday, May 8
Lawrence Gaines' homicide trial reached its final stage Wednesday without Gaines—or any other witnesses—testifying for the defense. That means jurors will return to Northampton County Court Thursday morning to begin hearing closing arguments and begin deliberating whether Gaines is guilty of killing William Thompson in Easton last summer. Prosecutors allege Gaines, 45, stabbed Thompson five times, with one of the wounds slicing through Thompson's femoral artery. Thompson, 43, of Easton, died a few hours later at St. Luke's University Hospital. Gaines' attorney, Robert Sletvold, argued in his opening statement Monday that his client acted in self-defense after Thompson attacked Gaines with a piece of wooden railing. Police say Thompson had …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Testimony begins in trial of Lawrence Gaines, accused of deadly stabbing in Easton.
It started as argument, turned into a fight, and ended with a man bleeding to death. That was witness Tony Williams' testimony Tuesday in Northampton County Court as jurors began the second day of the trial of Lawrence Gaines, accused of stabbing Easton resident William Thompson to death last July 3 on the 600 block of Ferry Street. Prosecutors allege Gaines, 45, stabbed Thompson five times, with one of the wounds slicing through Thompson's femoral artery. Thompson, 43, of Easton, died a few hours later. Gaines' attorney argued in his opening statement Monday that his client acted in self-defense after Thompson attacked Gaines with a piece of wooden railing. According to the Express-Times, Williams testified he pulled Gaines off Thompson …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Juror in Easton homicide case says she's not sure she could be fair to man her ex-prison-guard husband told her he knew.
A juror serving in an Easton homicide trial found herself dismissed before testimony even started Monday after she mentioned the name of defendant during to her husband on the phone during lunch. That's because her husband is a retired Northampton County corrections lieutenant who told her she should "be concerned" about the man on trial: Lawrence Gaines, accused of the fatal stabbing of William Thompson in July 2012. She said her husband knew Gaines. Because of that, the juror told Judge Edward Smith she wasn't sure if she could be fair to Gaines. Assistant District Attorney Michele Kluck asked the juror what she based her concerns on. "Twelve years of a husband getting home every day, sharing stories of his employment tends to make one …
Attorney says Lawrence Gaines acted in self-defense last year during deadly Easton stabbing.
Jurors deciding the fate of Lawrence Gaines at his homicide trial will have to determine what kind of man he was when he allegedly stabbed William Thompson to death last year. Was he, as prosecutors argue, the "muscle" for an Easton drug house who brutally attacked a struggling drug addict and left him to die in the street? Or was he a homeless man who—after trying to walk away from a fight—pulled a blade from his pocket only to defend himself during a fast, confusing brawl? "It took a knife to save that man's life," defense attorney Robert Sletvold told jurors Monday, the first day of Gaines' trial on criminal homicide charges in Northampton County Court. Gaines, 45, is accused of stabbing Thompson, 43, during a fight in the early morning…
Jurors will decide whether Lawrence Gaines is guilty of killing William Thompson last year.
A man accused of a deadly stabbing near Northampton County Prison last year will go on trial Monday. Lawrence Gaines, 45, is accused of stabbing William Thompson five times during a fight on the 600 block of Ferry Street on July 3, 2012. According to police, Thompson, 43, of the 1400 block of Washington Street, had gone to an apartment at 613 Ferry St. looking for a man named Miguel. Police say Gaines, who is also known as "L," answered the door, and he and Thompson got into an argument—which police say was drug related—that turned into a physical confrontation. At a preliminary hearing last year, witness Tony Williams said Gaines punched Thompson several times. Williams said he broke up the fight, but that it began again when Thompson …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Police say raid focused on crack and heroin sales at Ferry Street property tied to July homicide.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Tom Coombe
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
Complaints from neighbors about drug sales led Easton police to raid a house on the 600 block of Ferry Street Wednesday night. The building in question is 613 Ferry St., which is where the argument that led to the fatal stabbing of William Thompson began on July 3. When that stabbing happened, the house was allegedly a place where people came to buy drugs. And it was apparently still being used for that purpose up until Wednesday, police said, with residents allowing dealers to stay there in exchange for drugs. When the raid was over, eight people -- ranging in age from 22 to 73 --were arrested, two of them facing felony charges. They are: They were all charged with misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charges and released, except for Young and…
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Friday, October 12, 2012
Lawrence Gaines headed to trial for the killing of William Thompson.
Lawrence Gaines is accused of stabbing William Thompson to death in July.
Their legal names are Lawrence Gaines and William Thompson. But in their circle, they were known by nicknames "L" and "Pancho." Early on the morning of July 3, a dispute between the two men left Thompson dead and Gaines, 44, in jail. And on Friday, a judge ruled that Gaines should stand trial for homicide in Thompson's death. District Judge Gay Elwell made that ruling after hearing from a witness who described a fight between Gaines and Thompson that ended with Gaines allegedly stabbing Thompson several times on the 600 block of Ferry Street. Witness Tony Williams testified that he was at a home on that block that morning with several people -- including Gaines -- when Thompson showed up and banged on the door. Williams said Thompson -- …
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
Remembering those who have lost their lives to violence in Easton in the last two years.
Since we launched in November 2010, we've covered six homicides: five in the city, one in Williams Township. The most recent one was the fatal stabbing just four days ago on Ferry Street. We're taking this space today to remember those victims. Joselynn Urquia Eleven weeks into her life, Urquia was beaten to death by her father, Joseph in their apartment on Seventh Street. She died after spending two days in the hospital. Joseph Urquia was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to third degree murder. Kimiko Moon Moon, 43, of Easton's Highlands section, was shot in her home on Christmas Eve 2010, and died from her wounds 10 days later. Her killer, John McGlinchey III of Bucks County, pleaded guilty to the murder…
Amend Wun
9:17 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Surely Ronnie is equally as critical of certain republican candidates, say ones running for county council with tons of personal baggage, right? more ›