Eric Arnold

Despite Community Concerns, Epps Sentenced to Prison Time

Sustained outpouring of community support — a defining aspect of Kevin Epps’s murder trial —  ultimately fell short at his sentencing hearing.

Acquitted of Murder, Convicted Anyway: Epps Trial Reveals Racial Gap in Self-Defense Law

Kevin Epps shot and killed Marcus Polk inside his home in 2016, saying he did so to defend himself.

Legal, Ethical Questions Remain as Epps Trial Sentencing Date Nears

As Kevin Epps awaits sentencing for the 2016 shooting of Marcus Polk, supporters are raising concerns over prosecutorial misconduct and judicial error.

Hung Jury, Mistrial in Latest Phase of Epps Trial as Prosecution Narrative Unravels

Courtroom observers speculated this turn of events may have reflected the jury’s irritation at prosecutorial overreach in a largely circumstantial case.

Verdict Reached in Kevin Epps Murder Trial

A San Francisco jury found filmmaker Kevin Epps not guilty of first- or second-degree murder on Monday December 15, as a nine-year-long legal saga reached a tipping point.

Jury Instructions, Closing Arguments In Epps Trial

Deliberations and a verdict are all that remain in the month-long murder trial of filmmaker and editor Kevin Epps in San Francisco Superior Court. 

Kevin Epps: ‘Felon With a Gun’ or Community Asset?

After three weeks of testimony, the trial of Kevin Epps for the 2016 murder of Marcus Polk has now reached the jury instructions phase.

As Epps Trial Draws to a Close, Equal Justice Concerns Emerge

The defense in the trial of Kevin Epps for the 2016 killing of Marcus Polk relied on a sole witness, forensic pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek.

In Epps Trial, Prosecution Presents Potentially Damaging Testimony Before Resting

Kevin Epps, 57, is facing first-degree murder charges in the 2016 shooting death of Marcus Polk, then 49, a troubled transient and chronic methamphetamine user.

Complicated Family Dynamics and Questionable Witness Testimony on Display in Epps Trial

The murder trial of SF-based filmmaker Kevin Epps has been a highly-procedural affair to date, as the prosecution has relied heavily on law enforcement...

In Epps Trial, Concerns Over Prosecutorial Misconduct and Political Agendas

The murder trial of Kevin Epps, executive editor for the legacy Black newspaper SF Bayview, has resumed after a six year hiatus. Epps' supporters are questioning the controversial use of digital animation as supposed new evidence by the DA.

Trump’s Threats and the Moral Unraveling of America

The US under Trump has surrendered the moral authority that once allowed Americans to believe that their country stood for something beyond raw power.

Unforeseen Consequences of a Ban on Birthright Citizenship

Just Live | Trump’s proposed birthright citizenship ban faces Supreme Court review, raising concerns over economic impacts, workforce shortages, and creation of a stateless underclass, while states consider restricting education access for undocumented children.

Larry Itliong and the Great Delano Grape Strike

The myth that Cesar Chavez single-handedly led the farmworker movement was never true. Nothing makes this clearer than the life and work of Larry Itliong.

Justice Denied for Late Grandpa Vicha?

Antoine Watson, convicted by a jury in the fatal attack on Vicha Ratanapakdee, received probation instead of prison time.