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SALT LAKE CITY — A man charged with murder in a fatal traffic accident while allegedly driving drunk made his first appearance in court Thursday.
Bill Robert Thompson, 44, is accused of intentionally running a red light at Lone Peak Parkway and 12300 South on May 8, causing a seven-car accident. Susan Madsen, 43, was killed in the crash.
Rather than vehicular or negligent homicide, Thompson was charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, along with DUI and two counts of aggravated assault, third-degree felonies; seven counts of DUI, a class A misdemeanor; and two counts of assault and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, class B misdemeanors.
Wearing a blue Salt Lake County Jail jump suit with his hands shackled in front of him, Thompson's initial court appearance was brief.
Judge James T. Blanch informed Thompson of the charges against him and assigned the Salt Lake Legal Defender's Office to represent him. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office requested the case be moved to 3rd District Court in West Jordan.
Three people, a man and two women, who appeared to be in the courtroom for Thompson left the courthouse without comment. One woman tried to hide her face by covering her head with a scarf.
Thompson is being held on $1 million bail. His next court hearing is scheduled for June 10.
