Jun 26, 2008

San Carlos teen pleads not guilty

Anthony Giraudo, 18, died in argument outside Giants game

By Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer

A San Carlos teenager accused of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the May 9 death of Anthony Giraudo, 18, of Redwood City, pleaded not guily Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court.

Police and prosecutors have said that Taylor Buckley, 18, punched Giraudo outside AT&T Park following an argument near the end of a San Francisco Giants game. When Giraudo fell, his head hit the pavement, and he died the next day at San Francisco General Hospital.

Giraudo's family has said he was attacked after sticking up for a female friend. He was telling some people who were harassing her to stop when he was punched twice.

Prosecutors contend Buckley sucker-punched Giraudo on the side of the face with a closed fist, but did not charge Buckley with murder because the killing was deemed to have occurred without malice. Buckley, who was a senior at Carlmont High School at the time, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault, but posted bail a short time later.

Prosecutors also believe Buckley and some of his friends may have been drinking earlier that night. But San Francisco District Attorney's Office officials would not say whether toxicology tests were done on Buckley.

Buckley's attorney, Douglas Horngrad, has said his client did not intend to kill Giraudo. He called the incident "a tragic accident" and said Buckley is remorseful and devastated about what happened.

"There is no plea bargain," Horngrad said Wednesday.

Horngrad said he is still reviewing reports about the incident and examining evidence. He declined to comment further about the case.

Buckley, who is out of custody on $200,000 bail, is scheduled to return to court Aug. 5. The next court date should determine whether the prosecution and defense are ready to set a court date to schedule a preliminary hearing, Horngrad said.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office declined to comment about the case and Giraudo's family could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Buckley could face up to four years in state prison if convicted.


Bay City News contributed to this report.


E-mail Mark Abramson at mabramson@dailynewsgroup.com.