Prosecutors in San Francisco have dropped all charges against two men accused in the murder of famed private investigator Jack Palladino two years ago, citing a lack of evidence.
Palladino, whose clients included presidents, corporate whistleblowers and Hollywood moguls, died on Feb. 1, 2021, outside his home after suffering a brain injury resulting from a drive-by attempt to rob his camera, San Francisco police said at the time.
But the district attorney's office dismissed the case Wednesday after a witness admitted he never saw one of the men, in the passenger's seat, attempt to steal the camera through the car window, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office said in a statement. Also, the suspect's DNA was not found on the camera, the office said.
The dismissal has disappointed the Palladino family, said longtime family friend and lawyer Mel Honowitz. He said circumstantial evidence clearly showed the men attempted to steal Palladino's camera, resulting in his death. But there was no video of the moment that Palladino made contact with the men, he said.
Hathaway's client said he drove away because Palladino was yelling at them through the window and also hit the car with his hand, she said. Palladino lost his footing and fell, the office said.
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