A San Francisco County Superior Court Judge has granted a motion filed by a coalition of 13 news organizations to release evidence in the case against David DePape, the man accused of assaulting Paul Pelosi, the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This evidence includes video from a body camera, a 911 call, parts of a police interview, and security video taken during the break-in. The footage is expected to be released to the public on Thursday, providing more insight into the incident and the subsequent investigation.
Posts published in “Crime”
Alex Murdaugh is on trial in Walterboro, South Carolina, for the 2021 murders of his wife and youngest son. Prosecutor Creighton Waters presented evidence that included gunshot residue, bullets, and cellphones, while the defense argued that the evidence was circumstantial. The jury will decide whether Murdaugh is guilty of the charges.
Prosecutors in Northern California have charged 66-year-old Chunli Zhao with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the shooting of eight farm workers in Half Moon Bay. This is the highest number of people murdered at one time in San Mateo County's history, and the investigation is ongoing with no motive determined yet. Zhao is currently in custody and is expected to appear in court on Thursday.
Alex Murdaugh is on trial for the cold-blooded murder of his wife and youngest son, with prosecutors alleging he used a shotgun and rifle to kill them at close range. State prosecutor Creighton Waters said Murdaugh called his wife twice after she had been killed while he was a third of a mile away, and described the injuries as horrific. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with the outcome still uncertain.
In the last 44 hours, California has experienced three mass shootings, leaving 24 people dead and prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to call for action to address the gun violence epidemic. The suspect in the Half Moon Bay shooting, Zhao, is facing seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The Gun Violence Archive reports that there have been 40 mass shootings in the US so far in 2021, more than at this point in any year on record.
Two former Arkansas law enforcement officers have been charged with civil rights violations for using excessive force during the arrest of Randal Worcester, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The incident has sparked a national conversation about police brutality and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. The findings of the investigation have been given to a special prosecutor, and it is unclear what the outcome of the case will be.
On Saturday, 11 people were killed and nine injured in a mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California. The gunman, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, was an elderly loner who had recently sold his property and had few close friends. A vigil was held at Monterey Park City Hall overnight for the victims, and the city's large Asian American community is standing together in the wake of the tragedy, searching for answers.
After spending more than 20 years in prison for a 1991 murder, kidnapping and sexual assault, Albert "Ian" Schweitzer was released on Tuesday after a Hawaii judge ordered his immediate release. His attorneys presented new evidence, including DNA testing of evidence collected from the crime scene, which showed that Schweitzer was not the perpetrator, as well as evidence that the victim had been seen with another man shortly before her death. Schweitzer's attorneys from the Innocence Project have argued that he was wrongfully convicted and have been fighting for his release for years. He is now reunited with his family and looking forward to starting a new life.