A 24-year-old man has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of an elderly Thai man in San Francisco, a 2021 killing that helped ignite a nationwide movement against anti-Asian American violence.
Verdict Reached in High-Profile Attack
A jury on Thursday found Antoine Watson guilty of the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault. He was not convicted of murder for the January 2021 attack on 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee.
The office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that the jury remains empanelled. Jurors are scheduled to return on 26 January to hear arguments on aggravating factors before a sentencing date is set.
A Fatal Morning Walk
The incident occurred as Ratanapakdee was taking his customary morning stroll in his quiet neighbourhood, where he lived with family. Watson charged at the elderly man, knocking him to the ground. The violent encounter was captured on a neighbour's security camera.
Ratanapakdee never regained consciousness and died two days later. His family believes he was targeted because of his race, but hate crime charges were not filed, and the argument was not presented at trial. Prosecutors have noted that hate crimes are notoriously difficult to prove without direct statements from a suspect.
Context of Rising Anti-Asian Sentiment
This tragic event occurred against a backdrop of sharply escalating attacks on Asian Americans following the emergence of COVID-19. According to testimony reported by KRON-TV, Watson claimed he was in a "haze of confusion and anger" during the unprovoked attack and said he did not know his victim was Asian or elderly.
San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, whose office represented Watson, expressed sympathy for the victim's family and stated the defendant is "fully remorseful for his mistake." He emphasised the legal system's role in examining facts impartially, even in cases that garner significant press attention.
The case became a rallying point. In 2022, hundreds of people in five U.S. cities commemorated the anniversary of Ratanapakdee's death, calling for justice. Data from the Stop AAPI Hate coalition revealed that from March 2020 to September 2021, over 10,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault.
