As we detailed earlier, in a verdict that has shocked many in the Bay
Area (and across America), a jury of six men and six women in sanctuary
city San Francisco found illegal immigrant (and five-time deportee) Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty in the death of Kate Steinle.
Mr. Garcia Zarate had been homeless at the time of the
shooting and had multiple felony convictions and five prior deportations
to Mexico. He had been set free from jail only months before
the shooting, in defiance of requests by federal immigration
authorities, who had asked that he be held longer so he could be
deported again.
The backlash to his release into the community crescendoed when Donald Trump invoked Ms. Steinle’s killing as he campaigned for president.
As The New York Times reports, Ms. Steinle’s death in July 2015 fed into a fierce debate over whether immigrants without legal status should be deported more aggressively, and over the role local law enforcement should play.
Mr. Garcia Zarate acknowledged firing the weapon, but said it was an accident.
Garcia Zarate was found guilty of illegal firearms possession, which carries a sentence of 16 months to three years.
* * *
The public defender wasted no time in focusing his thoughts on President Trump and his administration...saying Zarate was "extremely relieved" by the outcome and that while Steinle's death "was a horrible tragedy," it was used as "political fodder for then candidate Donald Trump's anti-immigration agenda."
Adachi added, "Despite the unfairly politicized atmosphere surrounding this case, jurors focused on the evidence, which was clear and convincing, and rendered a just verdict."
In a response to the verdict, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement saying that despite California's attempt at a murder conviction, Zarate was able to walk away with only a firearm possession conviction because he was not turned over by San Francisco to ICE.
Robbed, murdered, and now, set free because of a law passed in California that allows illegal aliens TO NOT BE CHARGED FOR FELONIES OF ANY KIND AND ARE THEREFORE, DEFACTO FREE IF ARRESTED. |
MANY felonies, many arrests, and murders and now free again to kill more pretty white girls. |
As The New York Times reports, Ms. Steinle’s death in July 2015 fed into a fierce debate over whether immigrants without legal status should be deported more aggressively, and over the role local law enforcement should play.
Ms. Steinle, known as Kate, a 32-year-old medical equipment saleswoman, was walking along Pier 14 in San Francisco when she was struck by a bullet and collapsed into her father’s arms.
Dead for being white |
Zarate and his defense team maintained the argument that the suspect found the stolen weapon on the pier that day and it "just fired."Defense attorney Matt Gonzalez said Garcia Zarate found the gun at the pier... but the stories of what happened copntradicted one another...
The gun belonged to a federal Bureau of Land Management ranger and was stolen from his parked car a week earlier.
The bullet ricocheted on the pier's concrete walkway before it struck Steinle, killing her. Zarate has admitted to shooting Steinle, but says it was an accident.
He said it was wrapped in cloth, and when Garcia Zarate unwrapped it, the gun accidentally discharged.But still, after six days of deliberation, the illegal Mexcian immigrant was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges and also found not guilty of assault with a firearm.
But in a police interrogation, Garcia Zarate admitted to firing the gun, saying he was aiming at a seal.
He also told police that he stepped on the gun, causing it to fire.
Garcia Zarate was found guilty of illegal firearms possession, which carries a sentence of 16 months to three years.
* * *
The public defender wasted no time in focusing his thoughts on President Trump and his administration...saying Zarate was "extremely relieved" by the outcome and that while Steinle's death "was a horrible tragedy," it was used as "political fodder for then candidate Donald Trump's anti-immigration agenda."
Adachi added, "Despite the unfairly politicized atmosphere surrounding this case, jurors focused on the evidence, which was clear and convincing, and rendered a just verdict."
In a response to the verdict, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement saying that despite California's attempt at a murder conviction, Zarate was able to walk away with only a firearm possession conviction because he was not turned over by San Francisco to ICE.
"When jurisdictions choose to return criminal aliens to the streets rather than turning them over to federal immigration authorities, they put the public's safety at risk," the statement said.Social media erupted with outrage at the verdict (with very few - if any attempting to defend the verdict)...
"San Francisco's decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle."
Sessions continued, "I urge the leaders of the nation's communities to reflect on the outcome of this case and consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens by refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement officers."
I don't know any American citizen who is a 5x felon and could get away with killing someone with a stolen gun. #KateSteinle #KatesLaw #JoseZarate— Ginger (@SpicyMustang) December 1, 2017
I seriously feel like buying my own damn bricks & building this damn wall myself! So flipping outraged by this unjustice! #BuildtheWall #KatesLaw— ????????????Steff???????????? (@Steffs_tweets) December 1, 2017
May San Francisco rot in hell! #KatesLaw— Mike (@Bigly45) December 1, 2017
Insist that KATES LAW is passed. When illegals have more rights and protection than American Citizens. This MUST STOP!!!!— Diana Batissa (@DianaBatissa) December 1, 2017
SF city just proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they dont care if YOU, or others get killed by their policies.— Constitutional-TQN???? (@TechQn) December 1, 2017
They will continue to shelter illegals and allow them to do as they please and dont care about the innocents hurt by them. ????
SICK!#KateSteinle #KatesLaw
And even politically-correct politicians piped in...If Hillary Clinton were in office, we'd all be in danger. The #KateSteinle verdict is an endorsement of murder. There is no way to spin this, there is no defense, today the mask came off.— Mike Cernovich ???????? (@Cernovich) December 1, 2017
Kate Steinle’s murderer not guilty? This is outrageous! A great injustice has been done. No Californian can feel good about their justice system today. I grieve from the bottom of my heart for the Steinle family who must be personally suffering from this injustice.— Senator Jim Nielsen (@CASenatorJim) December 1, 2017