Hunter S Thompson

[hydrargyrum]

Hunter S Thompson was returned to the earth over the weekend.  For those of you who may not have heard, the ceremony included Thompson's ashes being shot from fireworks mortars atop a tower of built in the likeness of his personal symbol, a dagger ending in a two-thumbed symmetrical fist.  One of my personal heroes . . .
 
There he goes, one of Gods own prototypes,... never even considered for mass production, to weird to live, to rare to die...
HUNTER S. THOMPSON

[richbass939]

The timing is rather ironic for one of the people HST did so much to help.  
He brought a lot of attention and legal expertise to the case of Lisl Auman, a 21 year old woman from Denver who was convicted of felony murder almost eight years ago.  She did not participate in the murder of a Denver police officer but was convicted under a bizarre application of the felony murder law and was sentenced to mandatory life without the possibility of parole.
HST called in favors from his many friends (including several high-powered attorneys) who helped with her appeals and gained valuable public support.
A few months ago her conviction was overturned by the Colorado Supreme Court.  This led to a plea agreement that was accepted today by a Colorado judge.  Under the agreement she will be allowed to serve the remainder of her new sentence (another twelve years) in the community corrections system rather than in the state prison.  She will probably move into a halfway house any day now.  Possibly, in six months or so, she may move into the home of her mother and stepfather.
Unfortunately, HST didn't live to see her conviction overturned or her release from prison.  He loved Lisl very much and was very passionate about her cause.  Lisl and her family were shocked and saddened by Hunter's death. They will forever be grateful for the help he gave and concern he showed.
Rich

[57basstra]

I hope there was at least one Gonzo Journalist on hand to document the event for Hunter.
 
(Message edited by 57basstra on August 23, 2005)