Man found guilty in San Francisco death of ‘Grandpa Vicha’ to be released

The man responsible for the death of a cherished Thai grandfather, affectionately called “Grandpa Vicha,” in San Francisco is set for release on probation, as determined by a judge on Thursday.

Antonine Watson, 24, launched an unprovoked attack on 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee during his routine walk on January 28, 2021. Watson knocked Ratanapakdee to the ground, causing a head injury from which he never recovered, igniting the nationwide “Stop Asian Hate” movement.

On Thursday, Judge Linda Colfax handed Watson an eight-year sentence, as reported by KRON 4. Despite facing charges of murder and elder abuse, Watson was only convicted of involuntary manslaughter in January.

Having served five years in prison already, Watson’s remaining three-year sentence will be suspended if he complies with his probation terms, according to the outlet.

Ratanapakdee’s death provoked widespread outrage and activism within the Asian-American community, prompting urgent discussions on safety and justice. The January conviction of Watson on lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault was perceived by many in the Asian-American community as a setback.

“The system just told every Asian elder in America: Your life is negotiable,” activist Forrest Liu expressed to the San Francisco Chronicle after the verdict. Vicha’s daughter, Monthanus Ratanapakdee, conveyed her profound disappointment with the verdict, as noted by 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 stated.

Watson was only 19 years old when he attacked Ratanapakdee. During his trial, Watson admitted to not understanding his actions at the time. “In the moment, I wasn’t thinking. Looking back at it, I think I did push him hard,” Watson reflected, as reported by the Chronicle. He faced four years in prison each for assault and manslaughter, with an additional five years for rendering Ratanapakdee comatose and for the victim being over 70. In California, a murder charge can result in a sentence of 25 years to life, and a felony elder abuse charge causing death can add up to four more years.

Legal analyst Steven Clark remarked that Watson’s sentence was lenient. “This was a very big win for the defense today,” Clark told NBC Bay Area following the January verdict. “When you look at the credit for time served already done, I think Mr. Watson will be leaving jail very shortly,” Clark noted.

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