SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A defense lawyer for a Mexican man acquitted of murder in the shooting of woman in San Francisco directed a message to President Donald Trump, who had frequently cited the case during his campaign for tougher immigration policies.
Defense attorney Francisco Ugarte said Thursday the death of Kate Steinle was an “incomprehensible tragedy,” but the ruling was a vindication for immigrants.
Ugarte said the case was used “to foment hate” and used “to catapult a presidency along that philosophy of hate of others.”
He said the immigration status of defendant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate had no relevance to the case and the verdict was a correct reflection of what transpired.
Garcia Zarate did not deny shooting Steinle in 2015 and said it was an accident.
He had been deported five times and was wanted for a sixth deportation when Steinle was fatally shot in the back in 2015.
And United States Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in on the case:
I am disappointed and angry at the not guilty verdict for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal alien who had several felony convictions & was deported from the US five times. Justice must be served for Kate Steinle. https://t.co/IxiL9WCU50
– Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 1, 2017
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsFULL COVERAGE:
- KATE STEINLE MURDER TRIAL THAT SPARKED IMMIGRATION DEBATE UNDERWAY
- RANGER WHOSE GUN USED IN PIER 14 SLAYING WAS PROMOTED
- CITY OFFICIALS TO ASK KATE STEINLE’S FAMILY TO DISMISS LAWSUIT
- DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD PASS LAW AFTER KATE STEINLE
- PIER 14 SHOOTING VICTIM WAS ‘LOVING, SMART, BEAUTIFUL’
- SUSPECT IN PIER 14 FATAL SHOOTING PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED 5 TIMES