Khambay Tanpirak folded his hands in his lap and humbly nodded at the eight people who had just acquitted him of criminal homicide.
"I don't know what to say," the 23-year-old Draper man told reporters. "I'm just in shock." While Tanpirak was stunned, his family and friends found plenty to say.When the jury returned the verdict of not guilty after 31/2 hours of deliberation Thursday afternoon, 3rd District Judge Richard Moffat's courtroom erupted in both screams of joy and sorrow. Tears streamed down the faces of Tanpirak's family as they scrambled to hug or even just touch him.
"We love you, baby," said one woman as she stretched across the bench to squeeze Tanpirak's hand. His younger brother Chay was all smiles.
"This must be the happiest day of my life," he said. "I'm not surprised (by the verdict)." Tanpirak's "second mother," Gloria Boltis, added, "We're so relieved. This kid is no murderer. I feel like our justice system really works."
Tanpirak's father rushed to the pay phone outside where he called his wife and tried to tell her what had happened.
The jury found Tanpirak acted in self-defense when he shot Jesse Atwood seven times Jan. 1, 1992, with a semi-automatic rifle. Prosecutors had argued Tanpirak intended to kill Atwood because he left the party and came back with the gun.
Atwood's family and friends were devastated. One woman flung her face into her hands and wept loudly when the verdict was read. When she began cursing and yelling, the judge called for additional deputy sheriffs, fearing trouble would erupt. A deputy escorted Atwood's relatives out of the building.
Several jurors wept after the verdict was read and all hurriedly left the building avoiding family members and reporters. Defense Attorney Lynn Brown received applause when he emerged from the courtroom. He hardly acknowledged the praise and instead told them when and where they could pick up Tanpirak, who was released from jail about 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prosecutor Ruth McCloskey appeared stunned and expressed her surprise at the verdict. "It's contrary to the law," she said. "I think (our case) went well. The witnesses held up very well."
Unable to make bail, even after it had been reduced from $150,000 to $40,000, Tanpirak had remained in jail for nearly six months.