(KRON) -- A man who viciously murdered his elderly neighbor in San Francisco nearly 40 years ago will remain under state supervision because of a recent verdict from an SF jury.
On Thursday, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that jurors determined 58-year-old Brian Thompson, four decades after his crime, is still insane and would pose a danger to society without California Department of State Hospitals supervision and mental health treatment.
"This verdict reinforces the importance of ensuring that individuals who have committed serious acts of violence receive the mental health treatment and supervision necessary to protect public safety," Jenkins said. "Our justice system must balance the rights of individuals receiving mental health treatment with our responsibility to protect victims and the broader community."
On March 15, 1987, Brian Thompson murdered a woman who had welcomed him into her home and provided him with a place to stay. He slashed her throat, repeatedly stabbed her, and sexually assaulted the victim, prosecutors said.
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Following the 1987 murder, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Instead of being sent to prison, Thompson was committed to a state hospital for mental health treatment.
In 2024, Thompson was placed in California's Conditional Release Program and he petitioned the court to declared him legally sane. Following a trial, jurors unanimously agreed Thompson had not been restored to sanity and is still dangerous due to his mental disorder.
The 2026 case against Thompson was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Asha James. "I am deeply grateful to the jury for their exceptional focus and for delivering a swift, just verdict that reflects the important role mental health treatment plays in keeping our community safe," said James.
