Two criminal cases going through the San Francisco Superior Court, both involving the killing of Asian women, continue to draw controversy as one defendant took the unusual step of defending himself at trial, and another was considered for pretrial diversion.
Yik Oi Huang
The trial for the murder of Yik Oi Huang, affectionately known as “Grandma Huang” entered its fourth week last week with Keonte Gathron continuing to represent himself, while receiving whispered guidance from an assigned deputy public defender seated beside him. On Oct. 28, a San Francisco Police Department witness testified that Gathron’s DNA matched samples collected from the body of 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang, found in a Visitacion Valley playground seven years ago. The scene was described as indicative of sexual assault, with Huang discovered bearing multiple blunt force injuries to the head, her pants pushed down, and her shirt pushed up.
Presiding Judge Eric Fleming maintained a stern demeanor throughout the proceedings, particularly during Gathron’s cross-examination of the testifying San Francisco Police Department officer. Fleming repeatedly admonished Gathron for vague and unfocused questioning, urging him to be more direct. Gathron responded with defiance, “Are you a referee or a player?” and “I’m getting triple-teamed here,” drawing visible discomfort from the courtroom.
Gathron cross-examines an SFPD witness during his trial on Oct. 28 presided over by Judge Eric Fleming. AI-generated sketch under editorial direction…