Richmond: Author of ‘Please Break the Law’ convicted of murdering brother

RICHMOND — Nicolas Adjuder, a San Pablo author whose canon includes titles like “Please Break the Law” and “The Poor Are Not Trying.net,” was convicted of murdering his brother.

A Contra Costa jury found Adjuder, 49, guilty of first-degree murder with a gun enhancement for killing Christopher Thomas during a Christmas Eve 2017 argument inside the brothers’ home.

The July 1 verdict came after a trial where he attempted to argue Thomas’ fatal gunshot wound was actually from a catheter and a resulting government cover-up, but his lawyer argued that Adjuder was “unwell” and fired while panicking during a fight between the brothers.

During the trial, Adjuder gave jurors a profanity-laced, blow-by-blow recap of the murder. The two brothers lived together in San Pablo but quarreled often. Adjuder said this was just a normal part of how his family interacted and pointed out he’d never used fatal force in their prior arguments.

After the shooting, Thomas reportedly stumbled into their mother’s room and said, “Mama, Nick shot me,” before collapsing. Adjuder would only admit that he “shot at” his brother, not that he killed him.

As a self-published author, Adjuder bluntly expressed his opinions in a writing style similar to his oft-belligerent trial testimony.

The description for his book “Please Break the Law” — published in 2010 — encourages readers to “flout the law” and not worry about getting caught.

“You can have this freedom by carrying an unregistered gun illegally; take illegal drugs and stop paying taxes on any business venture that you start,” Adjuder writes. “If you take these measures, the quality of your life will improve since you will be taking responsibility for your life and stop using the law as an excuse on why you suffer.”

Adjuder faces 50 years to life in prison and remains jailed while awaiting formal sentencing.