Bail reduced for suspect in cyclist's death

Bail reduced for suspect in cyclist's death
	By the Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News | Tuesday, 27-Feb-2001

A judge Monday morning reduced the bail of a San Francisco truck
driver accused of fatally hitting a bike messenger.  But it was
not enough to allow him to be released from jail while awaiting
a potential trial.

Reuben Espinoza, 42, was being held on $2 million bail, set at
his Feb. 7 arraignment.  Judge Cynthia Ming-Mei Lee reduced
the amount to $1.5 million after hearing Espinoza's attorneys
describe him as a man who had turned his life around.

Espinoza is charged with manslaughter in the death of Chris
Robertson, 30.  Robertson was riding in a pack of bike activists
when Espinoza allegedly ran over him with his big rig on Nov. 17
near China Basin.

Espinoza faces three felony charges in the alleged road-rage
incident, including involuntary manslaughter and assault with
a deadly weapon.  Espinoza allegedly threw a wooden block at
Robertson as he rode his bike.

A date for a preliminary hearing will be set March 6.

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