The jury reached a verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man who was killed in the De Anza neighborhood of San Francisco in 2021.
Antoine Watson is guilty of manslaughter and guilty of force likely to produce great bodily harm, but not guilty of first or second degree murder.
Vicha’s daughter Ratanapakdee told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she is “disappointed and in pain.”
It was five years ago this month “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in the Anza Vista neighborhood of San Francisco.
MORE: 610 days after 84-year-old Thai grandfather was murdered, SF street renamed in his honor
Surveillance video showed Watson running and then pushing Vicha to the ground.
He hit his head and died days later.
Watson was 19 at the time and testified that he did not call 911 because he was afraid the police would arrest him and panicked.
Vicha’s death became one of the flashpoints in the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.
I am very surprised by the outcome of this verdict,” said Clark.
“What you saw on that video appears to be a deliberate attack of an elderly man. It was a very vicious attack that could suggest implied malice – enough for second degree murder,” Clark said.
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More than 600 days after the murder of an 84-year-old Thai grandfather in SF, a street in his neighborhood has been renamed “Vicha Ratanapakdee Way”.
The victim’s daughter and many others believe that the attack was because Vicha’s grandfather was Asian.
But the case was not charged as a hate crime.
“I think the defense was able to show that this was an impulsive act by a young man, not a targeted attempt to kill,” said legal analyst, Steven Clark.
Watson testified that he did not notice Vicha’s grandfather’s age or race, but he was angry after a bad day.
Experts say Watson could soon be released from prison with time served.
“When you look at what he’s facing, now that it’s manslaughter, which is a maximum of four years, he’ll probably get credit for time served and walk out the door,” Clark said.
RELATED: 610 days after 84-year-old Thai grandfather was murdered, SF street renamed in his honor
Watson has already spent five years in custody awaiting trial.
Thursday afternoon, Watson’s mother declined to speak to ABC7 News.
The prosecution and the defense in this case will return to court on January 26.
On Thursday night, San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong released the following statement:
“I have no words for the disappointment I feel from the verdict in the trial of the murder of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Grandfather Vicha inspired me and so many members of the community to step up, volunteer our time, and Stop Asian Hate. The murder of Grandfather Vicha was malicious, evil and whoever committed the crime should be dealt an adequate punishment for the Ratana family cannot today. their loss, but they deserve better than this outcome was not served”.
Stewart Chen, a public safety attorney in Oakland’s Chinatown area, an AAPI leader in Oakland shared this text:
“Calling this ‘involuntary’ does not reflect the reality or the fear it has caused Asian elders everywhere. Justice must fully recognize the value of our elderly lives and send a clear message that violence against the elderly will not be minimized.”
“The system has just said to every Asian senior in America: your life is negotiable,” said Forrest Liu, an activist with Stop Asian Hate.
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