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The prosecution of an 86-year-old white man named Andrew Lester, charged in the shooting of a Black teenager named Ralph Yarl last year in Kansas City, Missouri, will proceed as scheduled following completion of a mental evaluation for Lester. The trial is set to start on Feb. 18, with a second week scheduled if necessary. Yarl’s family is pleased that the case is moving forward, as they see it as a step towards justice for the trauma they have endured. Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action for shooting Yarl in April 2023 after the teen rang his doorbell at the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger brothers. Yarl survived the shooting, but suffered injuries. Lester claimed self-defense, but his defense has raised concerns about potential jury bias due to publicity surrounding the case. Yarl’s family remains committed to seeking fairness and justice, stating that they do not want any other family to experience such pain based on the color of their skin. If convicted, Lester faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the assault charge and 3 to 15 years for the armed criminal action charge. Celebrity remarks and widespread news coverage have brought attention to the case, highlighting possible racial motivations.
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Man accused of shooting Ralph Yarl in wrong-door incident to face assault trial
