Closing arguments in La Crosse triple-murder trial set for Monday

A La Crosse County jury will get the weekend off before hearing closing arguments in a triple-homicide trial.

The prosecution rested Friday at the Nya Thao trial, as Thao chose not to testify, and the defense called no other witnesses.

Thao is accused of shooting three men to death at a local quarry in the summer of 2021. A second suspect, Kham Rattanasack, testified for the prosecution on Thursday and is likely to plead to reduced charges.

The two suspects are accused of fatally shooting Peng Lor, Nemo Yang, and Trevor Maloney near West Salem, in a dispute over a $600 debt. Witnesses on Friday included Sheriff’s investigators Rich Amundsen and Fritz Leinfelder, who were questioned about messages retrieved from cellphones, and statements made by the suspects and trial witnesses.

Thao’s trial began on Monday, June 12th. Rattanasack could enter a negotiated plea at his next hearing in July.