Hate-crime charges dropped after jury deadlocks in Lake Natoma case
Source: Posting on Satender Group by mark@outsacramento.com
[Notes From Charlie] Aleksandr Shevchenko was found guilty today, approximately at noon, of both misdemeanor accounts disturbing the peace, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the hate crime enhancements, and were hung 7-5 in favor of guilty. Aleksandr Shevchenko , was dismissed from the court today and ordered to appear again at 1:30 On July 11 for sentencing, but as I understand it, he will be placed on probation. The DA would not discuss the case, but the defense attornry said he was only unhappy that the jury found him guilty of the second count of disturbing the peace, because he believed it was a case of self-defense. That count involved Ramil Sharma who Shevchenko threw the beer bottle at. Shevchenko made no comments after the trial, but was visibly relieved that it was over.
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Hate-crime charges dropped after jury deadlocks in Lake Natoma case
By Crystal Carreon – Published 1pm PDT Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Hate-crime charges against a man linked to volatile feud that killed Satender Singh last summer were dropped Wednesday after Sacramento jurors failed to agree on who first fueled the tensions at Lake Natoma and whether the state’s only defendant was to blame. After more than four days of intense deliberations, the jury of seven women and five men emerged before noon to tell Superior Court Judge Gary S. Mullen that they had deadlocked on penal code 422.7 – the hate crime allegation against Aleksandr Shevchenko, 22, for his role in last year’s fight. Shevchenko, however, was found guilty on two misdemeanor counts: disturbing the peace and simple assault for throwing a bottle. Shevchenko’s attorney, Michael D. Long said he would appeal the decision.
“It’s understandable on the hate crime enhancement – because it’s not one,” Long said in the elevator, leaving the courtroom. He questioned why jurors convicted his client on what he viewed as self-defense. Shevchenko threw a bottle at members of Singh’s party who were chasing him after Singh was punched – an act of violence after a daylong dispute between one group described in court as “the Fijians” and “the Russians.” Read the Remainder of the article at: sacbee.com/1089/story/1023395.html
