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Remembering Grandpa Vicha
Friends, family and strangers marched in San Francisco to remember an elderly man known as 'Grandpa Vicha' who was killed during a brutal attack.
SAN FRANCISCO - A verdict has been reached in the trial of a man accused of killing an elderly San Francisco man five years ago in a brazen attack.
A jury on Thursday found Antoine Watson guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault in connection with the 2021 death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee.
Watson was not found guilty of murder in the first or second degree, or of elder abuse.
Defense cites emotional distress
The backstory:
The attack, captured on a neighbor’s security camera, shows Ratanapakdee being violently shoved to the ground.
The defense did not dispute that Watson shoved Ratanapakdee.
Instead, attorneys argued 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.
Prosecutors described Watson’s actions as reckless and deliberate.
During their closing argument, they said the defendant was "angry that his car wouldn't start, and he spotted a target for his anger."
The defense further argued that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof for a premeditated killing, suggesting that childhood trauma may have contributed to Watson's actions.
Prosecutors allege defendant acted recklessly
The other side:
Prosecutors described Watson’s actions as reckless and deliberate.
During their closing argument, they said the defendant was "angry that his car wouldn't start, and he spotted a target for his anger."