The trial surrounding the 2021 death of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man in San Francisco, culminated in a verdict of involuntary manslaughter for defendant Antoine Watson, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Watson, 24, was cleared of murder charges but found guilty of both involuntary manslaughter and assault in a case that sparked significant rallying within the Asian American community against surging anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic.
While Watson could face up to four years each for the two charges, the jury also acknowledged two sentence enhancements, potentially increasing Watson’s prison time by an additional five years. Monthanus Ratanapakdee, daughter of the slain Vicha, expressed deep disappointment in the jury’s decision, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, “My father was an 84-year-old man who was attacked while simply walking in his neighborhood, and that loss can never be undone.” Her grief evident, the verdict, though falling short of her expectations, did affirm that her father’s death had mattered, as Monthanus acknowledged.
After five years in custody, Watson, having stood trial, now awaits the determination of the aggravating factors by the jury, which could influence the final sentencing. As per an NBC Bay Area report, the San Francisco District Attorney’s office was brief in its response, stating that further comments are limited until the jury concludes this phase. Watson has claimed he did not know Ratanapakdee was Asian or elderly at the time of the unprovoked attack, an assertion the prosecution has contested…