Man Who Attacked ‘Grandpa Vicha’ in San Francisco Is Found Not Guilty of Murder
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Antoine Watson was found not guilty of murder and elder abuse for shoving 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee to the ground in San Francisco in 2021, a case that highlighted rising anti-Asian attacks during the pandemic.
- Watson was convicted of lesser charges, including involuntary manslaughter and assault with force likely to cause injury; Ratanapakdee died two days after the attack from a brain hemorrhage.
- The incident, captured on security footage, went viral and resonated deeply with Asian American communities concerned about elder safety.
- Sentencing arguments on aggravating factors will be heard later this month, with Watson facing up to nine years in prison.
- The trial focused on whether Watson acted with
