The jury trial in the case of David DePape, the man accused of bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a gavel at his San Francisco home last fall, is expected to continue through the summer, his attorney said Thursday.
In a brief hearing Thursday, prosecutors and DePape’s defense attorney asked a San Francisco Superior Court judge to approve an April date when the attorney will set a date for his trial in the state’s case against him. He is also facing charges in federal court.
DePape will appear at the next state hearing on April 12th.
“Preparing a case like this is just a lot of work, a lot of investigation, a lot of everything you can think of,” said San Francisco Assistant Public Defender Adam Lipson, who is representing DePape. “There is evidence that is in the possession of the FBI and it’s still seeping in… I’ve never seen anything like it.”
DePape, 42, is accused of violently assaulting the husband of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis in October. Prosecutors said DePape broke into the Pelosi residence in the middle of the night, armed with a hammer, to take Nancy Pelosi hostage.
After a tense and drawn-out encounter at Paul Pelosi’s bedside, DePape allegedly hit Pelosi with a hammer and fractured his skull. The bloody encounter was captured by a San Francisco police officer’s body camera.
During detention, DePape spoke openly about hurting the speaker’s husband and described the efforts it took to break into the Pacific Heights home.
DePape, a Canadian citizen, has pleaded not guilty to six charges brought by the San Francisco County Attorney’s Office, which include attempted murder and first-degree home invasion. He faces a parallel trial in federal court, in which he pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping and assault.
If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
Prosecutors have previously argued that the evidence obtained by investigators and the defendant’s own testimony show DePape attempted to kill Paul Pelosi with “cold and calculated consideration.”
Just last month, DePape called the KTVU television newsroom from the San Francisco County Jail and told a reporter that he attacked Pelosi because “people’s individual liberties are being attacked,” the outlet reported. He also apologized for “not going further” and said he “should have come better prepared”.
Lipson said he had “no comment” on DePape’s reported phone call.
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