San Andreas Judicial Branch
Superior Court of San Andreas
"EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW"
ISSUANCE OF VERDICT
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN ANDREAS
State of San Andreas v. Saint Valentine (Xiao)
#24-CM-0063
A decision was reached in the above case on the 29th day of September, 2024.
State of San Andreas v. Saint Valentine (Xiao)
#24-CM-0063
A decision was reached in the above case on the 29th day of September, 2024.
The case of #24-CM-0063, State of San Andreas v. Saint Valentine (Xiao) has been resolved.
On the 28th of February, 2024, the defendant was allegedly involved in a police shooting which subsequently led to them being arrested for the attempted murder of a government employee. The allegations resulted from a situation in which LSPD’s SWAT was allegedly called to a Gang Shooting situation. The defendant, allegedly, arrived at the scene on a three-times occupied Kamacho, which had its occupants get off the vehicle and open fire at the police - Suspects which were later neutralized.
During the pre-trial phase, arguments seeking to suppress specific evidence were presented and these were not recognized, and thus, the whole of the discovery presented remainted intact. Furthermore, the Prosecution presented a Motion to Amend, seeking to pursue the defendant for the charge of NM03 - Unlawful Assembly.
To arrive to the judgment the Court is tasked with determining whether the defendant did in fact commit the alleged crime -Attempted murder of a governent employee-, and if while doing so they had unlawfully assembled for such purposes.
The prosecution affirmed that a three-times occupied Kamacho arrived at a scene and opened fire at police officers. The arrest report provided suggested that the defendant had already been neutralized before they had arrived on scene. To the Court, the evidence provided suggests that Mr. Valentine (Xiao) was in fact present in the situation, and that it can be reasonably concluded that he carried a weapon of illegal nature, along with illegal accessories and ammunition. However, that is not in question or dispute in the present case, as both made apparent by the information and arguments presented on the docket and the statements provided during trial.
The evidence -more particularly the statements- provided allow the Court to conclude that one of the three occupants of the vehicle shot at -or at least attempted to- police officers with opportunity, that being the shotgun-wielding driver. However, resulting from the first-hand statement provided by Sgt. Keys, the Court is unable to reasonably conclude that the defendant opened fire at public servants, and thus, did not meet the minimum burden for the charge of SF02 - Attempted Murder against a Government Employee. This circumstance is aggravated by the fact that bodycamera footage was referenced numerous times and even reviewed as basis for the charges, however, it was not provided even after being compelled during discovery.
In regards to the unlawful assembly charge, the Court finds that the circumstances that led to the events show premeditated intent and willingness to commit other crimes. However, given that the accessory more often than not has to follow the fate of the principal matter, it would be unreasonable to find the defendant guilty of unlawful assembly and not guilty of SF02 - Attempted Murder of a Gov. Employee.
It is with the above considerations that I issue the following verdict:
- On the count of SF02 - Attempted murder of a government employee, I find the defendant, Saint Valentine (Xiao), not guilty.
- On the count of NM03 - Unlawful Assembly, I find the defendant, Saint Valentine (Xiao), not guilty.
The defendant shall be entitled to compensation in the amount of $27,000. This compensation can be handled at Rockford Hills City Hall by a qualified judge.
So ordered,
Associate Justice
Supreme Court of San Andreas
San Andreas Judicial Branch