Fresno father partially cleared of sons death, bonded out of jail

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- William Wright III, the Fresno begetter accused of murdering his ain son, is present partially cleared of immoderate transgression wrongdoing.

"The assemblage came backmost unanimously not blameworthy connected murder," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Michael Idiart said Monday. "The assemblage unanimously came backmost not blameworthy connected a lesser discourtesy of voluntary manslaughter."

The verdicts, explained successful tribunal connected Monday, came down precocious Friday aft astir a week of assemblage deliberations.

Prosecutors had charged Wright III with 1 number of execution for the shooting decease of his son, William Wright IV. He died successful 2022 erstwhile prosecutors accidental his begetter pulled a weapon during an argument.

"He elevated that tussling to a shooting," Deputy District Attorney Liz Owen said during her closing arguments past Monday.

At trial, the defence lawyer pushed back, telling the assemblage Wright III was not a convulsive man. It was capable to person jurors.

"The grounds pointed to nary murder," defence lawyer David Balakian said. "No intent to kill."

While the assemblage rejected the astir superior charges against Wright III, helium is not afloat cleared. The assemblage was deadlocked connected a little superior charge.

"I declared a mistrial Friday connected the involuntary manslaughter," Judge Idiart said. "If determination is simply a 2nd proceedings oregon retrial, helium tin lone beryllium prosecuted connected involuntary manslaughter."

Prosecutors volition soon determine to disregard the lesser complaint wholly oregon petition a 2nd trial. But adjacent if different assemblage convicts him, Wright III apt would not look immoderate situation time.

He has been successful jailhouse for astir 2 years and would person capable recognition to screen the imaginable maximum sentence.

Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi says an involuntary manslaughter condemnation would inactive person superior implications.

"This would intelligibly beryllium a felony and prohibit this idiosyncratic from possessing a gun, ammunition, oregon thing of that sort," Capozzi said.

Wright III could enslaved retired of jailhouse connected the lesser complaint arsenic soon arsenic Monday night.

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