Man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of San Francisco Thai grandfather
The 2021 killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84, sparked a national movement against anti-Asian-American violence
A man has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of an elderly Thai man whose 2021 killing in San Francisco helped spark a national movement against anti-Asian-American violence.
A jury did not find Antoine Watson, 24, guilty of murder when it returned a verdict on Thursday for the January 2021 attack on Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84. Jurors found Watson guilty on the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault.
The office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins declined to comment, saying that the jury was still empanelled. Jurors will return on January 26 to hear arguments on aggravating factors, and sentencing will be scheduled once that is completed, the office said in an email.
Vicha Ratanapakdee was out for his usual morning walk in the quiet neighbourhood he lived in with his wife, daughter and her family when Watson charged at him and knocked him to the ground.
The encounter was captured on a neighbour’s security camera. Ratanapakdee never regained consciousness and died two days later.
His family says he was attacked because of his race, but hate crime charges were not filed and the argument was not raised in trial. Prosecutors have said hate crimes are difficult to prove absent statements by the suspect.
