Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Court Reverses Sole Conviction in Kate Steinle Killing
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
August 31, 2019

Share

Jose Inez Garcia-Zarate was acquitted of murder in the killing of Kate Steinle, who was walking on a pier with her father when she was struck by a bullet in the back in July 2015. He was convicted of a single charge of being a felon in possession of a gun.

Case Became Fixture in Trump’s 2016 Speeches

The case against Garcia-Zarate, who was in the country illegally and had been deported five times, touched off a fierce immigration debate that was a fixture in Donald Trump’s stump speeches in his 2016 presidential campaign.
The 1st District Court of Appeal overturned the gun conviction because the judge failed to give the jury the option of acquitting Garcia-Zarate on the theory he only possessed the weapon for a moment.
Garcia-Zarate said he unwittingly picked up the gun wrapped in a T-shirt, and it fired accidentally. The bullet ricocheted off a concrete walkway and struck Steinle, who was with her dad and a family friend.

Garcia-Zarate Faces a Jan. 13 Trial

At the time, Garcia-Zarate had recently been released from the county jail while facing deportation proceedings. He was released under San Francisco’s so-called sanctuary city policy that barred local law enforcement officials from cooperating with most federal immigration investigations.
Tony Serra, the attorney who is representing Garcia-Zarate on federal charges of gun possession and being in the country illegally, said his client is in custody and faces a Jan. 13 trial.

Garcia-Zarate Can Be Retried

He said the state reversal means the district attorney will have the option of re-trying Garcia-Zarate on those charges.
“That kind of error causes reversals all the time. Then the prosecution has the prerogative of going again,” Serra said. “The state case is a heavier case because it’s a homicide and a gun. … It’s going to be a big potential decision on what they’re going to do.”

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Destiny Christine Brown

DON'T MISS

Three Missing Fresno Teens Found Safe After Nine Days

DON'T MISS

State Center Trustees Vote for Special Interest Giveaway Over Students: Opinion

DON'T MISS

Lakers Hold Off Rockets With 6 3-Pointers Apiece From Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent

DON'T MISS

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

DON'T MISS

Prosecutors Directed to Seek Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

DON'T MISS

NFL Postpones Tush Push Decision but Passes Other Rule Changes, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

March Madness: It’s South Carolina vs. Texas and UCLA vs. UConn in Women’s Final Four

DON'T MISS

Kings County Authorities Recover Stolen Tractor. Suspect Faces Prop 36 Penalty

DON'T MISS

Americans Rate Canada, Japan Most Favorably. Israel Sparks Record Partisan Divide: Gallup

UP NEXT

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

UP NEXT

NFL Postpones Tush Push Decision but Passes Other Rule Changes, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

March Madness: It’s South Carolina vs. Texas and UCLA vs. UConn in Women’s Final Four

UP NEXT

CA Snowpack Is Near-Average. What Does This Mean for Water Supplies?

UP NEXT

U.S. Bank Executive Terry Dolan Dies in Plane Crash Near Minneapolis

UP NEXT

California Gov. Newsom Says the Democratic Brand Is ‘Toxic’

UP NEXT

Silver Fire Grows to 1,250 Acres, Threatens Homes in Inyo County

UP NEXT

Sue or Hold Back? The University of California Does Both as It Faces Trump’s Wrath

UP NEXT

Top Vaccine Official Resigns From FDA, Criticizes RFK Jr. for Promoting Misinformation, Lies

UP NEXT

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

Lakers Hold Off Rockets With 6 3-Pointers Apiece From Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent

2 hours ago

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

2 hours ago

Prosecutors Directed to Seek Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

2 hours ago

NFL Postpones Tush Push Decision but Passes Other Rule Changes, AP Source Says

2 hours ago

March Madness: It’s South Carolina vs. Texas and UCLA vs. UConn in Women’s Final Four

2 hours ago

Kings County Authorities Recover Stolen Tractor. Suspect Faces Prop 36 Penalty

3 hours ago

Americans Rate Canada, Japan Most Favorably. Israel Sparks Record Partisan Divide: Gallup

3 hours ago

Flores Homers and Drives in 4 to Lead Giants Over Astros

3 hours ago

Voice of America Wins in Court, for Now, as Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Firing Staff

3 hours ago

Glasnow Pitches 5 Scoreless Innings and Dodgers Beat Winless Braves

3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Destiny Christine Brown

April 1, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Destiny Christine Brown Suspects Date of Birth: August 13, 1990 Physical Descripti...

60 minutes ago

Destiny Christine Brown is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for April 1, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
60 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Destiny Christine Brown

Three Fresno teenagers reported missing on March 19, 2025, were found safe on Friday, March 28, 2025, after one called a parent to arrange their pickup. (Fresno PD)
1 hour ago

Three Missing Fresno Teens Found Safe After Nine Days

2 hours ago

State Center Trustees Vote for Special Interest Giveaway Over Students: Opinion

2 hours ago

Lakers Hold Off Rockets With 6 3-Pointers Apiece From Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent

2 hours ago

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

ARCHIVO - Luigi Mangione, acusado de matar al director general de UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, durante una audiencia en un tribunal de Nueva York, el 21 de febrero de 2025. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post vía AP, Pool, Archivo)
2 hours ago

Prosecutors Directed to Seek Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

2 hours ago

NFL Postpones Tush Push Decision but Passes Other Rule Changes, AP Source Says

2 hours ago

March Madness: It’s South Carolina vs. Texas and UCLA vs. UConn in Women’s Final Four

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend