US EditionMan Convicted in 2021 Killing of "Grandpa Vicha" in San Francisco to Be Released on Probation
Watson received credit for five years served and probation including therapy and search conditions after a judge suspended his remaining sentence in the involuntary manslaughter case.
- On Thursday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Linda Colfax sentenced Antoine Watson to eight years in prison for manslaughter, but suspended the entire sentence after crediting five years served.
- Watson charged at 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee during his morning walk in the Anza Vista neighborhood in 2021, knocking him to the ground; Ratanapakdee never regained consciousness and died two days later.
- Surveillance footage of the attack became a flashpoint in the "Stop Asian Hate" movement. The jury acquitted Watson of murder and elder abuse charges, and no hate crime charges were filed.
- Monthanus Ratanapakdee, the victim's daughter, called the ruling "deeply disappointing" and emphasized consequences must reflect the harm caused. Watson's probation includes weekly therapy sessions and property searches.
- Family members stated the outcome raises concerns about protecting seniors, emphasizing accountability rather than revenge. Watson remains barred from the area where the attack occurred and must stay away from the victim's family.
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Man who fatally assaulted ‘Grandpa Vicha’ to be released, judge rules
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man who was found guilty in the 2021 death of a beloved elderly Thai grandfather known as "Grandpa Vicha" will be released on probation, a judge ruled on Thursday. Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84, died after being violently shoved to the ground in San Francisco's Anza Vista neighborhood. H Mart grand opening in Dublin draws huge crowds Antoine Watson, 25, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Ratanapakdee's death. The …
Man convicted of manslaughter in SF 'Grandpa Vicha' case gets probation after sentence suspended
Antoine Watson, the man guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 San Francisco death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, will go straight to probation without additional jail time, a judge ordered Thursday.
Thursday Morning What's Up: 'Grandpa Vicha' Killer to Be Sentenced
Antoine Watson is expected to be sentenced today for the Jan. 2021 killing of 'Grandpa Vicha' Ratanapakdee; H Mart is opening its big new Dublin location; and the International Olympic Committee is officially barring trans female athletes.
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