Kawhi Leonard (left) and his sister, Kimesha Monae Williams, who could face the death penalty for her alleged roll in the killing of Afaf Assad. (Image: 7News)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt helps that Kimesha Monae Williams is the big sister of NBA star Kawhi Leonard, who signed a $103 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers\u00a0over the summer.<\/p>\n
The Press-Enterprise<\/em> reports that Williams, 35, and her co-defendant, Candace Tai Tounsel, 39, were in court on Wednesday for a status hearing. They\u2019re pleading not guilty to charges of murder, robbery, and cruelty to an elder over the death of 84-year-old Long Beach woman Afaf Assad, who was found in the Pechanga restroom with a broken skull on August 31.<\/p>\nBest Defense Money Can Buy <\/strong><\/h2>\nOrganizing the Williams defense is Leonard\u2019s own attorney, Peter Ginsberg, who is currently representing the athlete in an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit against Nike.<\/p>\n
New York-based Ginsberg — a former criminal prosecutor who now focuses on white-collar criminal defense, sports law, and civil rights cases — told The Press-Enterprise<\/em> that he was \u201casked by the family to find the best, so I did.\u201d<\/p>\nWilliams will be defended by Virginia Blumenthal, who is widely considered one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tounsel is represented by Richard Swanson, a court-appointed attorney, but one who has defended nine death penalty cases over the past two decades \u2013 four successfully.<\/p>\n
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Prosecutors allege that Williams and Townsel saw Assad enter the casino with her husband at around 7:30 a.m. on the morning of August 31 and noticed a pink purse dangling from her arm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to court documents, the accused were observed by the casino\u2019s security camera following her into the restroom and emerging four minutes later.<\/p>\n
Assad was found shortly afterwards by a hotel guest and casino employee and taken to the hospital. Her handbag, which contained $1,000 in cash, was missing.<\/p>\n