The San Francisco Chronicle

APRIL 16, 1997, WEDNESDAY, FINAL EDITION

Psychiatrist Charged In Phone Death Threat

BYLINE: Harriet Chiang, Chronicle Legal Affairs Writer

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A17

LENGTH: 263 words

An East Bay psychiatrist has been charged with making a death threat against well-known trial attorney James Brosnahan, leaving a phone message promising to ”take out” the lawyer.
Dr. Bruce Africa was arrested last Wednesday at his home in Albany and charged with making a threatening phone call against the San Francisco lawyer the day before.
In a brief court appearance Monday, Africa pleaded not guilty to the charge. The criminal count carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Africa, who treated Brosnahan in the early 1980s, allegedly called the lawyer’s San Francisco’s office shortly after 4 p.m. last Tuesday.
”I have a problem now, ’cause I only have several bullets left in my gun,” Africa said in a transcript of the message. ”And I’m gonna take you out and maybe Rudy too.”
In the phone message, Africa allegedly accused Brosnahan of having an affair 20 years ago with Africa’s wife at the time, from whom he is now divorced. Africa has been a psychiatrist for 24 years and maintains a practice in Berkeley.
Brosnahan, 63, was out of town at the time the message was left, trying a case in New Mexico. He is married to Berkeley Municipal Court Judge Carol Brosnahan.
Africa’s arrest was made by Berkeley police, joined by a San Francisco district attorney investigator who reported that they found three handguns at Africa’s home.
Africa is being represented by Deputy Public Defender Jeff Adachi. ”Dr. Africa is a 56-year-old psychiatrist who has absolutely no prior contact with the criminal justice system,” Adachi said.