The brute who killed a beloved Thai grandfather known as “Grandpa Vicha” in San Francisco will soon be released on probation, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Antonine Watson, 24, acted without provocation when he attacked 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee while the elderly man was on his daily walk on Jan. 28, 2021.
Watson shoved Ratanapakdee to the ground and the grandfather struck his head, never to regain consciousness, sparking the nationwide “Stop Asian Hate” movement.
On Thursday, Judge Linda Colfax sentenced Watson to eight years, according to KRON 4.
He skated on charges of murder and elder abuse, and in January was found guilty only of involuntary manslaughter for the incident.
Because he has already served five years behind bars, the remaining three years of Watson’s sentence will be suspended if he adheres to the terms of his probation, the outlet reported.
The brute who killed a beloved Thai grandfather known as “Grandpa Vicha” in San Francisco will soon be released on probation, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Antonine Watson, 24, acted without provocation when he attacked 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee while the elderly man was on his daily walk on Jan. 28, 2021.
Watson shoved Ratanapakdee to the ground and the grandfather struck his head, never to regain consciousness, sparking the nationwide “Stop Asian Hate” movement.
He skated on charges of murder and elder abuse, and in January was found guilty only of involuntary manslaughter for the incident.
On Thursday, Judge Linda Colfax sentenced Watson to eight years, according to KRON 4.
Because he has already served five years behind bars, the remaining three years of Watson’s sentence will be suspended if he adheres to the terms of his probation, the outlet reported.
Ratanapakdee’s killing set off a surge of outrage and activism in the Asian-American community, fueling urgent conversations about safety and justice.
When Watson was convicted in January on the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault, members of the Asian-American community took it as a slap in the face.
“The system just told every Asian elder in America: Your life is negotiable,” Forrest Liu, an activist, told the San Francisco Chronicle following the verdict.
Vicha’s daughter, Monthanus Ratanapakdee, said she was “deeply disappointed” with the verdict, according to the Chronicle.
“Our family is grieving, and we will continue to honor my father’s life and advocate for the safety and dignity of our elders,” she said.
Watson was just 19 years old when he attacked and killed Ratanapakdee. At Watson’s trial, the killer said he didn’t know why he assaulted the old man.
“In the moment, I wasn’t thinking. Looking back at it, I think I did push him hard,” Watson said, according to the Chronicle. Watson faced four years in prison for assault and four years for manslaughter.
He faced five more years for rendering Ratanapakdee comatose and for his victim being over the age of 70. In California, a murder sentence can carry 25 years to life alone, and a felony elder abuse charge resulting in death could add up to four additional years.
Legal analyst Steven Clark Watson said Watson got off easily.
“This was a very big win for the defense today,” Clark told NBC Bay Area in after January’s verdict.
“When you look at the credit for time served already done, I think Mr. Watson will be leaving jail very shortly,” Clark said.
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