Courts
Jury for Thao trial in La Crosse ready Monday to deliberate triple-murder case
After a weekend of rest, jurors at the Nya Thao triple-murder trial in La Crosse County will hear closing arguments Monday, then begin deliberations in the case.
Thao is being tried for the second time on a charge of killing three men outside a quarry just north of West Salem, Wis., back in 2021. The first trial in June of last year ended with a hung jury.
Just as in that previous trial, Thao chose not to testify at this one. The defense called no other witnesses Friday.
Both sides rested after four days of testimony.
A second suspect in the case, Kham Rattanasack, testified against Thao a year ago, but did not take the stand at this trial.
Rattanasack was convicted separately and is serving a prison sentence.
Thao’s original trial ended with no verdict, after that jury discussed the case for about 10 hours.
The current jury will return to court early Monday to receive its instructions from Judge Elliott Levine.
