At Court the Day the Walker Verdict Dropped
Story by Shana White // Photos by G. Melesaine

When I arrived at the court that morning to hear what the verdict was, I knew for sure that Michael Walker was going to be found guilty. I was only wondering how harsh his sentence was going to be.   As soon as I got to the entranced, I saw a crowd of reporters, and Regina (Rudy's daughter) running out. Everybody had a look of shock on their faces. It wasn't until I spoke to one of my colleagues who was there that I found out that Michael Walker was found not guilty. It took me a few seconds for it to register than he got off clean. Wow, I thought is this really happening? I know this stuff plays out on the TV, but I never thought this injustice was going to happen here.

The prosecuting attorney, Lane Liroff, I thought gave a really strong closing statement. And when he gave it, I thought with all the evidence that has been given, the jury would be crazy not to come back with a guilty decision.

When I found out about the verdict, I started thinking about the jury. What surprised me was that they were people on the jury who used to work with law enforcement. What were they doing even being a juror? I now believe it when people say our system is corrupt and it doesn't work for our poor folks.

After the shocking news, on the steps of the courthouse,   one Cardenas supporter grabbed a sign that read “Michael Walker is a killer” and another that read, “Don't hide behind the thin blue line” and began chant. At that point Craig Brown, Michael Walker's lawyer, came out and all the news reporters rushed to him. Right then and there we all crowded around him and tried to drown him out from answering questions. The police started moving in really quick, and began pushing and telling us to move to the sidewalk.   We did for just a moment but came back after they went away.   After Brown finished his Q and A's he returned back inside. When some of the reporters interviewed the family, I even heard the reporters being surprised that all 12 jurors could find Walker not guilty. All of the evidence was there, and they even said that Michael Walker intentionally killed him, because he shot him in the back. When the crowd thinned a little, there was talk about a vigil that was going to be happening that night.

That night, there were more people who came out then in the morning, and there was also a lot of media covering it, which I thought was good. We all met up where Rudy Cardenas was shot. There was family, friends and supporters all standing together, holding candles in remembrance of Rudy.

I think everyone was thinking and feeling the same thing I was -- shock, no justice and disbelief.   The Cardenas family people spoke about the trail and gave their personal the testimonies. They thanked everyone who supported them. What was moving was when Rudy's brother spoke, and said talked about the good times they had together.   I remember hearing someone in the crowd say, if they let Walker off, other cops get will get off too in San Jose if they do the same thing.

Here the interview with Regina Cardenas

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