Immigrant acquitted in Kate Steinle killing sentenced to time served on gun charge

The undocumented immigrant acquitted of murder in the shooting death of Kathryn Steinle has been sentenced to time served for a gun charge, The Associated Press reported Friday.

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on Friday to serve the remainder of his sentence for illegal gun possession in federal custody, and a judge denied his attorneys’ request for a new trial. It was unclear how much time Zarate has remaining on his sentence.

Zarate was acquitted in November for the killing of Steinle, a San Francisco woman who was fatally shot on a pier in 2015. Steinle’s slaying was widely politicized, as Zarate was released from a San Francisco jail before her death despite a federal request that he be kept there until his sixth deportation.

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Critics of sanctuary city policies have pointed to Steinle’s death and Zarate’s release as evidence that tougher immigration laws are needed.

President Trump called the jury’s not guilty verdict “disgraceful” in a tweet in November.

“A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration,” Trump tweeted.

Last month, the Justice Department said it is considering federal charges in Steinle’s death.

Zarate’s defense attorney called for November’s ruling to be “respected,” taking shots at both Trump and Vice President Pence in a statement at the time.

“For those who might criticize this verdict — there are a number of people who have commented on this case in the last couple of years; the Attorney General of the United States and the President and Vice President of the United States,” Matt Gonzalez said.

“Let me just remind them: they are themselves under investigation by a special prosecutor in Washington D.C. and they may soon avail themselves of the presumption of innocence beyond a reasonable doubt, so I ask that they reflect on that before they comment or disparage the results of this case.”