re: How did they justify the Steinle verdict?

Neo Liberals consider Kate Steinle's death by this criminal illegal alien as just a sacrifice "for the greater good" or "collateral damage" in the neo lib policy of "open borders".

This is in their eyes the only "politically correct" solution.

To understand the neo lib one has to be familiar with their philosophical grandfather. He is Herbert Marcuse. The most influential leftist since the 1950's-'60s in the U.S. in institutions that "shape society" academic, literature, media, the entertainment industry, and finally politically in the actions of the Democrat party.

He called himself a "cultural Marxist".

The form of "Political correctness" that has taken over free speech here is straight from Marcuse's writings. His political philosophy is the "political" in political correctness.

I would suggest reading "Intellectual Morons" by Daniel Flynn for an overview if you want to understand neo libs.

Intellectual moron link

Marcuse's influence is outlined, and how a neo lib justifies every abominable thing they do, like what happened tonight with Steinle's murderer's not guilty verdict.

The book also describes other sick, twisted, shapers of society like Alfred Kinsey who was himself a sexual masochist who in his "research" had pedophiles molest children.
The book exposes all the neo lib gods like Margaret Sanger, Earth Liberation terrorist group for instance as the evil, insane people they were.