Inset: Kayla Hodgson (GoFundMe). Background: Sakiyna Thompson testifies in her own defense in her trial for allegedly murdering Hodgson (WTVJ).
A woman who allegedly traveled from New York to Florida to murder her ex-boyfriend”s new lover took the stand in her own defense Monday, claiming she killed the woman — who had been stabbed dozens of times — in self-defense.
Sakiyna Thompson, 31, is standing trial for the murder of 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson. Deputies with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office say Thompson killed Hodgson at the victim’s apartment in Tamarac on July 13, 2022. According to a courtroom report from local NBC affiliate WTVJ, Thompson claimed she traveled from the Empire State to the Sunshine State to have a “woman-to-woman” chat with Hodgson.
Thompson is conceding the fact that she killed Hodgson, but reportedly told jurors she did so in self-defense.
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“You didn’t kill her because she was fighting you?” a prosecutor asked.
“No,” Thompson responded. “I killed her because she took the glass from the hookah and slashed me across the stomach.”
The suspect, who was pregnant at the time, said she then blacked out and the next thing she remembered was holding the murder weapon and seeing Hodgson dead on the floor in a pool of blood. Hodgson suffered dozens of stab wounds, prosecutors reportedly said.
Thompson then allegedly changed into a set of the victim’s clothes and tried to clean up the scene before fleeing.
“I was walking in the blood,” she reportedly said.
She said she never called 911 because she was afraid and traveled back to New York. Authorities arrested her on Aug. 3, 2022, and extradited her back to Florida on a charge of first-degree murder.
The prosecution and defense were set to give closing arguments on Tuesday.
Hodgson’s family set up a GoFundMe account after her death.
“Kayla meant so much to so many people — she was an amazing daughter, a very loved and adored big sister, niece, granddaughter and cousin, whose bond was like no other,” the fundraiser read. “Everyone loved her tremendously and she was a friend to all.”
