GRAND JURY REACHES DECISION ON CARDENAS SHOOTING

Announcement Expected At 1:30 P.m.

The Santa Clara County criminal grand jury has reached a decision on the
case of a state narcotics agent who shot and killed Rodolfo Cardenas and
will announce it at 1:30 p.m. today.

Grand jurors have been deliberating since yesterday on whether there is
sufficient evidence to indict state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement agent
Michael Walker on criminal charges.

The 18-person grand jury can decide that Walker did nothing wrong, or that
he should stand trial on charges of either second-degree murder or
voluntary manslaughter.

In order to indict Walker for manslaughter, the jury must find he did not
have a reasonable belief that he was in danger. To indict for murder, they
must also find he did not have a good-faith belief of such danger.

On Feb. 17, 43-year-old Cardenas was mistaken for a fugitive parolee and
fled from state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents who chased him at
high speeds through downtown San Jose streets. Walker caught up to Cardenas
in an alley near the intersection of St. James and North Fourth streets. He
shot and killed Cardenas, and claims it was in self-defense.