Woman (Prostitute) who sat on man is guilty of involuntary manslaughter

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Hard Copy only) AP | 12/14/2001 | AP

[rface]

Peoria, Ill. – A woman who testified that she didn’t mean to suffocate a man when she sat on him during an argument over payment for sex has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Jurors deliberated about 2 hours Wednesday evening before convicting Rachael L. Thompson, 20. She faces two to five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 1. Prosecutors had sought a 1st degree murder conviction, which carries a 20-60 yr prison term.

Thompson was convicted in the death July 15, 2000, of Shiraz Jamsa, 49.

She told jurors that she became angry with Jamsa when he refused to pay her for an act of prostitution, so she charged at him with a chair. Thompson said she knocked him down, then sat on his chest and hit him in the head while trying to get his wallet.

Two forensic pathologists testified that Jamsa suffocated. Prosecutors said Thompson, who weighed about 190 lbs at the time should have known she could injure the 115 lb man by sitting on him.

Involuntary manslaughter means a person did not know his or her actions would cause the death of another. Jamsa’s family and friends were upset with the verdict.

“She killed him and got away with it,” said Charlotte Jamsa, the victim’s sister-in-law. “It was a slap on the wrist, unfair justice to the family.”

Through credit for time already served, Thompson could be released from jail shortly after her sentencing.

[rface]

There is a lesson to be learned here.....

Ashland, Missouri

[ambrose]

I'm sorry... but I couldn't help but laugh while reading this story...

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Suffocated by a woman, his own prostitute for welching. Talk about the ultimate humiliation!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

190 pounds is pretty heavy, but most men could manage to breath. What a wuss.

[AStack75]

There is a lesson to be learned here.....

Just say 'no' to big ho's?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

If she was sitting on him in such a manner as to suffocate him ... how could they be having an arguement? Enquiring minds want to know.

[mystery-ak]

What's the lesson?
...never have sex with a woman who weighs 190lbs?....LOL

[Rodney King]

190 lbs? She should have paid him.

[MassExodus]

"Sit on ___ _____ and tell me that you love me !"

- Monty Python song

[techcor]

Yes, at the very least his part of the arguement was really muffled. It kind of reminds me of a movie called "Lust in the Dust" with old "thunder-thighs".

[LN2Campy]

Sounds like he died in the wool!!

[Dallas]

Obviously, the jury pool was tainted by thin people.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

No photos?

[Ward Smythe]

Jamsa’s family and friends were upset with the verdict.

Were they at all concerned that he died while he was with a hooker?

[techcor]

It also reminds me of an old Cheech (from Cheech and Chong) routine "Baby, as long as I have a face, you have a place to sit."

Except in this case he would have pulled the "chair" out from under her.

[ArrogantBustard]

Thought of that as soon as I saw the hedline...

[Snardius]

I must admit, I was thinking she suffocated him in a completely different way than what is described here...but I won't go into the details.

[Georgia_JimD]

Crack kills.

[steveisright]

115 - 190 lbs? These are truly preposterous proportions!

[swordfish]

You just had to brign the word taint into this discussion, didn't you