Jun 25, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: San Carlos teen pleads not guilty in AT&T punching death

BAY CITY NEWS

A Peninsula teen accused in the one-punch death of another teen
during a fight outside AT&T Park in May pleaded not guilty to involuntary
manslaughter today in San Francisco Superior Court.

Taylor Buckley, 18, of San Carlos, is alleged to have punched Anthony Giraudo, 18, of Redwood City, during an argument outside the stadium
at about 9:45 p.m. on May 9, near the end of a San Francisco Giants game.

Giraudo, a baseball player who had been attending Canada College
in Redwood City, reportedly fell and struck his head on the pavement, and
died the next day at San Francisco General Hospital.

Prosecutors contend Buckley sucker-punched him once on the side of
the face with a closed fist, but did not charge Buckley with murder because
the killing was deemed not to have occurred with malice.

Prosecutors also believe Buckley and some of his friends may have
been drinking earlier that night.

Buckley's attorney Douglas Horngrad has said his client did not
intend to kill Giraudo and has called the incident "a tragic accident."

He said Buckley is remorseful and devastated about what happened.

Buckley, who is out of custody, is scheduled to return to court for a further hearing on Aug. 5.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Buckley could face up to
four years in state prison.