Opening statements are set for Monday/23 in the Zarate trial, following a nice scoop by Alex Emslie at KQED, who reported Friday that the federal agent who left unsecured in his car the gun that killed Kate Steinle was never disciplined – and instead was promoted five months after her death.
But the only person facing any criminal liability for Steinle’s death is Zarate, who the defense argues never intended to fire the gun or kill anyone; the hair-trigger Sig Sauer discharged by accident, his attorneys say.
It’s going to be a case with national implications – and it’s not easy to watch. Judge Samuel Feng has declined to allow cameras in the courtroom, so there will be no video feed. And the courtroom at the Hall of Justice is small, only 60 seats.
Some have been allocated to Steinle’s family. Some have been allocated to the press. There are 24 seats for the public, and they will be allocated by lottery.
If you want to go, show up at the Hall of Justice between 8:30 and 8:55am; the media desk will be on the first floor, and there will be signs. You can put in your name, and at 9am, the lottery will be held to determine who gets a one-day pass.
You have to come back and re-enter the lottery every day.
I would guess that the first few days will be really crowded, but the trial will go on for weeks, and after the opening days, public interest may wane and more seats may be available.
If you go and get a ticket, you can’t bring cameras or use a cell phone; the judge (correctly) wants to be sure that the jurors are not photographed or identified. The verdict could potentially infuriate some very powerful people (including the president of the United States.)
But it will be a dramatic trial, with major national and local political issues as well as legal issues. We will be keeping you updated, so look for daily reports here.
He said he found it and picked it up, it having been left at, on, under or near a bench on the pier.
how did the gun get into the hands of the shooter?
H Brown will be there with the blow-by-blow, play-by-play. Expect lots of verbiage from him here.
I would rather be stuck waiting for the 22 Fillmore for hours upon hours…..