(Bay City News) A key piece of video evidence can be used as evidence in the upcoming domestic violence trial against San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, appellate division judges ruled today.
The three-judge panel from the San Francisco Superior Court's appellate division had been considering whether to allow the use of a 55-second video recorded by a neighbor that reportedly shows Mirkarimi's wife Eliana Lopez crying and pointing to a bruise on her arm.
After use of the video was allowed by Judge Garrett Wong, Lopez's attorney Paula Canny appealed Wong's decision to the appellate judges, who today ruled that they denied the appeal.
Prosecutors have called the video the central part of their case against Mirkarimi, 50, who faces misdemeanor domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness charges in connection with the Dec. 31 incident in which he allegedly grabbed Lopez's arm during an argument, causing the bruise.
Canny was not immediately available to comment on the ruling this morning.