Live updates: Austin Thompson sentenced to life without possibility of parole for killing 5 people

Around 9:50 a.m., Dr. Sapia explained that Austin's brain injury at 15 caused significant disruption to his development, requiring him to re-learn basic skills and comprehend his surroundings. Two doctors assessed Austin's IQ during his recovery.

At 9:58 a.m., she noted that at 16, his score rose from 73 to 91, though his results still indicated difficulties with processing information.

Sapia can't explain how Austin's brain compensates for partial frontal lobe removal but notes he recovered, finished high school in prison without special services, and regained a normal IQ.

"He's a different person than he was at 15, developmentally, age-wise and because of his brain injury," she added.

On Thursday, court resumed at 9:30 a.m. The defense called up Dr. Jennifer Sapia, a clinical and forensic psychologist, to the stand.

The defense reached out to Sapia in July 2025 to meet with Austin and identify emotional, psychological and developmental factors, specifically in adolescent brain development.

At 9:40 a.m., Dr. Sapia talked about her conversation with Austin after his head injury.

"He understands cognitively what has happened and taken responsibility, understands he'll go to prison for a long time but it was adolescent magical thinking," she said. "He thinks of a future of being a dental hygienist, but is not able to fully appreciate and put himself in that kind of future."

At 11:57 a.m., the defense calls Gene Hallock, the director of the Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center.

At 12:05 a.m., Casey Corey, the director of education services for the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, takes the stand. He said he met Austin once at his graduation from the Cumberland County Learning Academy.

Around 12:17 a.m., court will recess until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, as the remaining witnesses were unable to attend.

Court went into recess for 15 minutes at 11:25 a.m.

At 11:42 a.m., court returned from recess. Darcie Ross, who works at the Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center, gave her testimony. She described de-escalation efforts conducted within the center for juveniles. She said that Thompson achieved gold status within six weeks, earning incentives within the facility.

Around 11:50 a.m., prosecution started to cross-examine Ross.