Man convicted in death of San Francisco's 'Grandpa Vicha' sentenced, will soon be released

Man convicted in death of San Francisco's 'Grandpa Vicha' sentenced, will soon be released

A judge in San Francisco on Thursday sentenced the man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of "Grandpa Vicha" to three years in state prison, an additional five years probation with credit for time served. 

SAN FRANCISCO - A judge in San Francisco on Thursday sentenced the man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of "Grandpa Vicha" to eight years but because he has already spent the majority of that behind bars, he will soon be released from custody. 

Judge Linda Colfax sentenced Antoine Watson to three years for an assault charge and five years suspended for aggravating factors following the 2021 death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, known by his nickname. 

Watson has already served five years in San Francisco County jail – mostly in isolation – and the remainder of his term will be suspended if he adheres to the terms of probation, which includes ongoing case management and supervision. He must also attend therapy and gain employment. 

That means Watson may leave custody later on Thursday, and go to live with his mother in Hayward. 

Probation conditions

Watson was convicted by a jury in January of killing Ratanapakdee. He was 19 at the time of the attack.

His public defender said he is remorseful, and said while he can't make up for what he's done, he can work to make himself a better man.

"This is not just about getting a second chance of life," said Anita Nabha, deputy public defender. "Whenever someone is convicted of a crime of someone's life, they need to fully dedicate themselves to making amends in whatever way they can. Antoine is never expecting forgiveness, but he wants to hold himself to a higher standard."

Ratanapakdee's family was upset. 

"Today’s sentence is deeply disappointing," Ratanapakdee's daughter, Monthanus Ratanapakee, said in a statement. "An 84-year-old man was killed in a cruel, unprovoked attack, and our family will live with this loss every day. This is not about revenge—it is about accountability. When consequences do not match the harm, it sends the wrong message about protecting our seniors and public safety. We are concerned about what this means for other families."

The attack, captured on a neighbor’s security camera, shows Ratanapakdee being violently shoved to the ground.

Vigil to honor Grandpa Vicha, as jury makes decision

Prosecutors revisit the case of the death of Grandpa Vicha, five years after his attack and two weeks after the defendant was found guilty. The jury returned a decision that could alter the defendant's fate. 

Trial

The backstory:

During the trial, Watson's attorneys argued that the then-19-year-old defendant was experiencing extreme emotional distress following a family argument and a car crash. They contended Watson "snapped" when his car would not start that January morning.

However, during the trial, prosecutors described Watson’s actions as reckless and deliberate.

During their closing argument, they said Watson was "angry that his car wouldn't start, and he spotted a target for his anger."

Jenkins disappointed

What's next:

After his release from custody, Watson will be required to receive counseling and have regular check-ins, which the judge believes would lead to a lower likelihood of re-offending. 

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins disagreed.

"Today we have to stand here and accept this outcome," the San Francisco DA said. "We do hope that he abide by the conditions of his release. We do hope that he gets the help that he needs so that he never does anything like this again."

Watson's family left court on Thursday without commenting on his release. 

Grandpa Vicha's daughter is now running for a San Francisco supervisor seat on a platform of public safety, clean streets and advocating for families and small businesses.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Antoine Watson's sentence.