The San Quentin Six were six inmates at San Quentin State Prison in the U.S. state of California who were charged with actions related to an August 21, 1971 escape attempt that resulted in six deaths and at least two people seriously wounded. The San Quentin Six were Fleeta Drumgo, David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Johnny Larry Spain, Willie Tate, and Luis Talamantez. The dead included George Jackson, a co-founder of the Black Guerrilla Family; two other inmates, and three guards.
The trial of the six men cost more than $2 million and lasted 16 months: the longest in the state's history at the time. It was dubbed "The Longest Trial" by Time magazine.[1][2] Of the six defendants, one was convicted of murder, two were convicted of assault on correctional officers, and three were acquitted of all charges.
During the escape, which sparked a prison riot on the cellblock, Jackson had possession of a .32 caliber pistol allegedly smuggled into the prison by his attorney Stephen Bingham. Immediately after the incident, Bingham fled the country for 13 years. He returned in 1984 to stand trial, and was acquitted of all charges in 1986.[3] Bingham's defense had argued that guards had smuggled the gun to George Jackson, hoping that he would be killed if he used it.
In addition to Jackson, those killed in the altercation were guards Paul E. Krasenes, 52, Frank DeLeon, 44, and Jere P. Graham, 39, and inmates John Lynn, 29, and Ronald L. Kane, 28.[4] Two other officers suffered serious injuries.
Spain was found guilty in the shooting deaths of guards DeLeon and Graham. Pinell was convicted of cutting the throats of guards Charles Breckenridge and Urbano Rubiaco, Jr., both of whom survived.[5] Johnson was convicted of assaulting Breckenridge.[4] There were no convictions for the killings of Krasenes, Lynn, or Kane.[4] Drumgo, Talamantez, and Tate were found not guilty of all charges, including various counts of murder, conspiracy, and assault.[4][6]
- ^ Hatfield, Lary (January 7, 1985). "Last vestiges of radical movement will go on trial in Bingham case". The Day. New London, Connecticut: The Day Publishing Company. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "The Longest Trial". TIME. July 19, 1976. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ "People In The News: Ex-fugitive finally feels free, retains his political activism". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. June 28, 1987. p. 2A. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "San Quentin Six trial costs California over $2 million". The Journal. Meriden, Connecticut. AP. August 13, 1976. p. 16. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
- ^ "Urbano Benito "Rubi" Rubiaco Jr.'s Obituary". Marin Independent Journal. 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ The Journal. Johnson Publishing Company. 2 September 1976. Retrieved August 16, 2015.