Suspect found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2021 SF ‘Grandpa Vicha’ murder case
The jury reached a verdict in the murder case of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, who was killed in San Francisco’s De Anza neighborhood in 2021.
Antoine Watson is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and guilty of using force likely to cause great bodily harm, but not guilty of first- or second-degree murder.
Vicha Ratanapakdee’s daughter told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she was “disappointed and pained.”
Five years ago this month, “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.
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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 she did not call 911 because she was afraid police would arrest her and she panicked.
Vicha’s death has become one of the flashpoints for the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.
I was very surprised by the outcome of this decision,” Clark said.
“What you see in this video appears to be a deliberate attack by an elderly man. This was a very violent attack that could suggest implied malice; it was sufficient for second-degree murder,” Clark said.
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600 days after an 84-year-old Thai grandfather was murdered in SF, a street in his neighborhood has been renamed “Vicha Ratanapakdee Road.”
The victim’s daughter and many others believe the attack was motivated by the fact that grandfather Vicha was Asian.
However, the case was not considered a hate crime.
“I think the defense was able to show that this was an impulsive act by a young man, not a targeted killing attempt,” legal analyst Steven Clark said.
Watson testified that he did not notice Grandpa Vicha’s age or race, but was angry after a bad day.
Experts say Watson could be released from prison soon.
“When you look at what he’s facing, now that it’s an involuntary manslaughter case that’s going to last four years at most, he’s probably going to get rewarded for his time and walk out the door,” Clark said.
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Watson had already spent five years in custody awaiting trial.
Watson’s mother declined to talk to ABC7 News Thursday afternoon.
The prosecution and defense in this case will appear in court again on January 26.
On Thursday night, San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong released the following statement:
“I have no words to describe the disappointment I feel with the verdict in the Vicha Ratanapakdee murder case. Grandpa Vicha inspired me and many community members to take action, volunteer their time, and Stop Asian Hate. Grandpa Vicha’s murder was malicious, evil, and the perpetrator must be punished appropriately for his crimes. My heart goes out to the Ratanapakdee family today. No verdict can undo their loss, but they deserved better than this outcome. Justice will be served.” “didn’t find it.”
Stewart Chen, a public safety advocate in Oakland’s Chinatown area and AAPI leader in Oakland, shared this text:
“Calling this ‘involuntary’ does not reflect the reality or the fear this creates in Asian elders around the world. Justice must fully recognize the value of the lives of our elders and send a clear message that violence against elders will not be minimized.”
“The system has told every Asian elder in America: your life is negotiable,” said Forrest Liu, a Stop Asian Hate activist.
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