Justice Delayed is Justice Denied, but Not in This Case

Who hasn’t risen early to try to catch a sunrise photo? The 71-year-old man in this case had a new camera he wanted to try out. He went to a popular viewpoint for a 360° view of San Francisco. Photographing the sunrise as the colors emerged above the mountains to the east would tempt most amateur photographers.

Also at this vista point were video surveillance cameras. The criminals must not have known that. As the man took photos, a young couple approached him. The cameras recorded them robbing him at gunpoint, yanking his camera and camera case away from him, then shooting him. While he lay suffering, they kicked him. A jogger called for an ambulance. The man didn’t survive.

About an hour later, the same couple was at a pawn shop attempting to sell the camera. Twelve days after the murder, the couple robbed more tourists—this time an investigator recognized the two. Additional information connected them to the photographer’s murder.

The authorities arrested them, charged them, and then the slow wheels of justice almost came to a stop. Many defense attorneys, and a few district attorneys, and seven long years later, they went to trial. The juries found them both guilty of several charges.

The same judge sentenced the 27-year-old man and the 27-year-old woman to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A district attorney associated with the case said at the sentencing,

“They often say, ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ but not in this case.”

Source: District Attorney, The Voice of San Francisco

All data and information provided is for information and research purposes only and not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Criminal cases may have been appealed or verdicts overturned since I researched the case. All information is provided on an as-is basis.