OAKLAND, CA — The judge denied the motion by the defense Friday to dismiss the case and said on the record that the case should be decided by a jury.
The ruling came as the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office signaled it would not oppose dismissal of all charges against former San Leandro police officer Jason Fletcher, who shot and killed Steven Taylor inside a Walmart on April 18, 2020. The development has alarmed Taylor’s family and community advocates, who say the DA’s position represents a failure to pursue accountability in a police killing case that has already faced years of delay.
Friday’s hearing unfolded against the backdrop of more than five years of legal setbacks, turnover among prosecutors and stalled progress. Attorneys and court observers noted the unusual posture of the case: the defense argued for dismissal while the prosecution declined to contest it, and the judge ultimately rejected that position…