Unless overcharging was done with the intent to instill sympathy for the perp.
I suggest the DA’s office wanted to lose this case. And did everything in its power to make that happen.
Consciously incompetent or grossly unconscious incompetence
Totally in agreement. The DA was under pressure to lose. To win would not be in line with SF/CA political elites and their policy. Why else would he not be wearing his thinking cap and come from a slightly different angle? For losing, what type of “bonus pay” will he be receiving?