Wright, wearing an orange jumpsuit, received the verdict with a gaze fixed on Judge Kelly Olmstead.
Judge Kelly Olmstead acquitted Minneapolis man Antonio Dupree Wright of all charges in a shooting case that left three dead and two injured on St. Paul’s East Side last year
Judge Kelly Olmstead emphasized that the evidence was insufficient to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt, prompting a vocal reaction from Wright’s supporters in the gallery.
Wright, 42, had opted for a bench trial, bypassing a jury, allowing Judge Kelly Olmstead to render the decision. He faced three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder for the violent incident in a Case Avenue duplex. Angelica Gonzales, Cory Freeman, and Maisha Spaulding lost their lives in the attack.
Judge Kelly Olmstead underlined that the key issue revolved around the identity of the shooter
Judge Kelly Olmstead pointed out that the only evidence linking Wright was the recanted statements made by Stephen Anderson, statements that were later retracted under oath. Wright’s lawyer, Joe Friedberg, asserted that Wright had a verifiable alibi – he was in Chicago during the incident.
Despite the acquittal, Wright still faces charges of kidnapping and attempted murder in a separate case. The county attorney’s office expressed disappointment but pledged to continue pursuing justice in the ongoing case against Wright. The verdict sparked a mix of emotions among friends and relatives of the victims, while Wright’s girlfriend, Annika Maher, believed that the decision was the right one, emphasizing the presence of reasonable doubt.
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