San Diego – In a high-profile case that has captured local attention, Troy Scholder, identified as a member of the Hells Angels, stands trial accused of a violent assault on a Black man. The courtroom drama centers on diverging narratives about the motives behind the stabbing, which took place on June 6, 2022, on Newport Avenue, a likely battleground for racial and violent confrontations.
During the closing arguments, prosecutor Miriam Hemming passionately advocated for a conviction of Scholder on charges of attempted murder and two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. Hemming highlighted the severity of the attack, which resulted in a lung and artery being severely damaged, describing it as a willful and premeditated act.
The incident is reported to have escalated from a verbal dispute outside a local bar, where racial tensions inflamed a violent pursuit by a group of bikers against three Black individuals. The altercation led to one man being severely beaten, another stabbed in the chest, and a third escaping harm by fleeing.
Adding a layer of complexity to the case, Scholder faces a hate crime enhancement. Evidence presented by Hemming, including photos of Scholder’s tattoos, which include symbols like the Iron Cross associated with racist ideologies, was used to argue that racial hatred motivated the attack.
In contrast, Scholder’s defense attorney, Marc Kohnen, presented a narrative that stripped the incident of racial motivations. Kohnen suggested the conflict arose from the victims’ alleged harassment of a woman linked to the Hells Angels, which led them to counter the perceived threat. He argued that while Scholder might have intended to inflict harm, he did not aim to kill.
Kohnen pointed out that Scholder’s cessation in his attack, by walking away after inflicting a single stab wound, is a proof against the intent to commit murder. However, he conceded that his client did commit felony assault with a deadly weapon in the act of stabbing.
The case is a focal point in a broader crackdown on biker gang violence, marking the first trial following a sweeping grand jury indictment. It stands out as others implicated have either pleaded guilty or are awaiting trial. Scholder could face 30 years to life in prison if convicted of attempted murder.
This incident raises important questions about the intersection of race, violence, and justice in a city grappling with rising racial tensions and gang-related crime. The outcomes of such trials are pivotal in signaling how the community and the justice system respond to racially charged acts of violence.
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