Man gets life without parole in 2007 slaying

David Thomson told District Judge Valerie Adair on Monday that he didn't know enough about Rachael Gandal to hold a grudge against her over a trivial landlord-tenant squabble.

He didn't know enough about the 28-year-old mother and former model to like or dislike her.

"And I didn't kill her," Thomson said during his sentencing hearing.

Adair responded that there was something wrong with Thomson's brain.

"I have no doubt of your guilt having heard the evidence in this case," Adair told the 40-year-old.

Adair sentenced Thomson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for shooting Gandal four times in the chest with a .44-caliber handgun four years ago.

Thomson was convicted in November of murder and burglary charges after a weeklong trial. The jury returned a guilty verdict after about two hours of deliberation.

At Monday's hearing, Thomson had asked Adair for a lesser sentence, which would give him an opportunity for parole after 20 years.

In response, prosecutors called witness after witness to testify about Thomson's bullying tactics as a landlord, which included almost running down a former tenant who was late with rent, threatening illegal immigrants with deportation, fights at strip clubs and punching his sister's boyfriend in the face with no provocation.

Gandal's father and sister attended the hearing and asked the judge to sentence Thomson to the maximum time allowed.

"What I'd like to see happen isn't offered," said Abbie Morris, Gandal's sister.

She described how Gandal's daughter, now 8 years old, will know her mother only as a box of ashes.

But in a cool, soothing and reassuring voice, Thomson told Adair that he is innocent and not the man prosecutors described.

Instead, he is a man of incredible patience who wants to help others. "Even being held in jail when I'm innocent, I don't wish anyone harm," Thomson said.

Thomson described how he has had no trouble in the jail since he was first arrested in 2008. He said he volunteers his time as a janitor and serves food to other inmates. He said he does so because he wants to stay active and not for any other benefit.

"I've had a wonderful life that's created a wonderful person. And that's me," said Thomson who was supported by more than a dozen family members and friends at Monday's hearing.

But prosecutors said Thomson's slaying of Gandal was a cold-blooded, calculated, premeditated execution.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Owens added that Thomson has shown no remorse.

Owens was right. Thomson never apologized. Instead, he said: "I do know there is nothing I can say that would console (Gandal's family). So, uh, there's nothing I can say."

He added, "I didn't know enough to like her or dislike her or hold a grudge against her. I didn't even remember who she was when this was first brought to my attention. And I didn't kill her."

Thomson told Adair he is appealing his conviction.

Adair showed little sympathy. She rhetorically asked whether Thomson, if allowed the possibility of parole, could be reformed or find religion after 20 years in prison.

"Frankly Mr. Thomson, my answer to that question is no," Adair said. "This indicates a fundamental problem with your character and your brain. This is not the type of thing that can be rectified over time."

Adair recognized that the victim lived an imperfect life. Gandal, a model with jet black hair who was a Maxim Hometown Hottie, had been involved with drugs. But Adair said there was no justification for her slaying.

Gandal's body was found in a car behind a 7-Eleven store at Flamingo Road and Rainbow Boulevard. Authorities said the text messages on her cellphone were from Thomson's phone.

Prosecutors said Thomson, her former landlord, lured Gandal to the 7-Eleven on Dec. 6, 2007, on the pretext of buying cocaine from her. Instead, Thomson exacted revenge on her for trashing a property she rented from him, prosecutors said.

On Dec. 8, Thomson left on a prearranged trip to Costa Rica, where he had property. When he returned to the United States, he moved to Grand Junction, Colo.

Initially, investigators had little evidence to go on. But they linked Thomson to Gandal through cellphone records and found the .44-caliber handgun used to shoot her, which was owned by Thomson.

Prosecutors said there was "bad blood" between Thomson and Gandal that began when he evicted her over an unknown dispute, according to court records.

Gandal took Thomson to court and was allowed to move back in.

Thomson evicted her again but not before she trashed the apartment and sold all the appliances from the property.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.