The woman who threatened to murder members of the Bakersfield City Council will head to trial next month.
A Kern County judge set Riddhi Patel’s trial date for Jan. 27 on Tuesday.
The backstory: Patel was arrested at a city council meeting last April for making threats when urging the council to support a cease-fire resolution in the Israel Hamas war.
- She said at the time, “I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherf___ers.”
- She also threatened to murder the councilmembers over a discussion to add security measures, such as metal detectors, to city buildings
- “Regardless of whether you elect people into office, they’ll backstab you,” Patel said at the time. “They’ll let you die. And for that reason – you guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors, we’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.”
Driving the news: Patel was released on $500,000 bail and charged with 24 felony counts over her threats.
- She pleaded not guilty back in April.
What we’re watching: Kern County Superior Court Judge David Wolf ordered Patel to return to court on Jan. 17 for a readiness hearing, which will precede the trial set for Jan. 27.
