SAN LEANDRO — The suspect in a 2024 killing was released from jail after his attorney told the judge about “confidential medical information” and argued he was the “driver and nothing more,” according to court records.

Robert Hughes, 19, was released from jail on $300,000 bail in March after his lawyer had an off-record discussion with Judge Veronica Rios Reddick, according to court records. Prosecutors objected to his release, arguing that Hughes provided the “murder weapon” to the person who ended up killing 26-year-old Nathaniel McCowan during a Playstation 5 robbery in San Leandro, according to a transcript of the hearing recently acquired by this news organization.

McCowan was shot and killed on April 1, 2024, reportedly after setting up a meeting to sell the video game console. Thu

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