Transgender murder

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DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- A Colorado man was convicted of first-degree murder and a bias-motivated crime and sentenced to life in prison for killing a transgender teen he met on an online social networking site.

It was the first time in the nation that a state hate crime statute resulted in a conviction in a transgender person's murder, the advocacy group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said.

Seated in the front row of the courtroom, the family of Justin "Angie" Zapata broke out in tears as the verdicts against Allen Andrade were read.

The jury deliberated for just under two hours before returning the verdict shortly after 3 p.m. Video Watch Andrade listen to the verdict »

"I lost somebody so precious," said Maria Zapata, the victim's mother. She glanced at Andrade and continued: "The only thing he can't take away is the love and the memories that I have of my baby. My beautiful, beautiful baby."

Andrade spoke just one word. "No," he said when asked if he wished to address the court.

Judge Marcelo Kopcow then imposed the mandatory sentence for the first-degree murder conviction -- life in prison without parole. Video Watch Andrade get sentenced to life without parole »

The verdict was hailed by gay and transgender rights groups.

"This is a landmark decision," said Mindy Barton, the legal director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado. Barton attended the trial daily.

"Hearing 'guilty on first-degree murder' and 'guilty of bias-motivated crime' was a hugely emotional experience for all the family, friends and the supporters of Angie," Barton added.

"She will not be forgotten."

Andrade admitted killing Zapata, but his defense argued that he acted in the heat of passion after discovering that Zapata was biologically male. The defense asked for a lesser verdict, such as second-degree murder or manslaughter.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors referred to Zapata as "she," while the defense referred to the transgender teen as "he."

"When [Andrade] met him, he met him as 'Angie,' " defense attorney Annette Kundelius argued on Wednesday. "When he found out it wasn't 'Angie,' that it was 'Justin,' he lost control."

But the jury rejected the argument, deciding in favor of prosecutors, who argued that Andrade knew Zapata was biologically male and that knowledge motivated the crime.

"This was an ambush attack," said Chief Deputy District Attorney Robb Miller. "This was an all-out blitz."

Zapata was "born in a boy's body but living as a female," added Miller. "Ultimately, she was murdered because of it."

The case has become a rallying point for supporters of the transgender community, who have held vigils and launched Web sites in remembrance of Zapata.

They are calling for the inclusion of transgender people in hate crime statutes across the country and at the federal level. Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia recognize transgender people in their hate crime laws.

According to prosecutors, Zapata, 18, and Andrade 32, met online in summer 2008 and arranged to meet. Zapata brought Andrade to her apartment in Greeley, Colorado, where they spent nearly three days together.

According to a police affidavit, Zapata was out of the apartment when Andrade noticed photographs that made him "question victim Zapata's sex."

Andrade confronted Zapata, who declared, "I am all woman." Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia.

According to court records, Andrade told police he began hitting Zapata with his fists, knocking her to the ground. He then grabbed a fire extinguisher and twice hit her in the head.

Andrade told police he thought he had "killed it," referring to Zapata, and covered her with a blanket. Realizing what he had done, he then cleaned up the crime scene, the affidavit said.

Andrade told police he heard "gurgling" sounds coming from the victim and saw Zapata sitting up. He hit her again with the fire extinguisher, he said, according to the affidavit.

Andrade took Zapata's car and fled. Police discovered the car two weeks later and arrested Andrade.

The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations, including Andrade telling a girlfriend "gay things must die." He did not testify in his own defense.

Zapata was 16 when she adopted the name "Angie," and made the decision to live as a woman.

Transgender murder, hate crime conviction a first - CNN.com
 
Look like there going to be next "Boy don't cry" film. I find it sad.
 
I saw that on CNN I think...that made me SO mad! I don't like to see anyone killed or badly hurt by being gay, lesbian, transgenders, etc! People can be so phucking CRUEL!!!!!!!!!!

That reminds me something. I saw movie on Lifetime...

A girl like me: The Gwen Araujo story.

Gwen

Very sad and I cried. I love the way she says to her all the time..."I love you too much". Most people say, "I love you very much or I love you" or "I love you like crazy" etc...
 
It's not really gay/lesbian. It's different when someone is have sex crises identify.
 
From reading the post, I agree that he should have been convicted of 1st degree murder.

I've never met a transgender...only have read about them time to time, and saw a movie once. So these types of people are puzzling to me.

I'm sure they (transgenders) are apt to get beat up when they actually "trick" someone into believing they are not what they seem to be! Being honest about it seems to be the right way to go, in my opinion. But to go as far as murdering someone over it, no way!

Seems to me also, that these people that actually do trangenders bodily harm, even murder....are in fact, questioning their own selves/identity!
 
the trans folks I know have often explained it as <among other things> "being trapped in wrong body", and knowing this from a very young age, but maybe not being able to articulate the feeling or have a name for it. I am very glad more acknowledgment of trans visibility and rights in GBLTQ communities at least -

but yes, the movies and stories are sad, but courageous too in their own ways. Trans folks can have a harder time passing than GBLQ especially if close to operation procedure, or can't afford the procedure. F to M operation is more difficult in terms of physical structure as far as I know but sociologically M to F can be more difficult since people who are genetically/brain-wise female from birth are more able to express varience of gender/sexuality than males in this culture are.
 
I would like to see for him to sentence to death penalty, however it would wasteful for just kill one person then life in prison is better choice.
 
From reading the post, I agree that he should have been convicted of 1st degree murder.

I've never met a transgender...only have read about them time to time, and saw a movie once. So these types of people are puzzling to me.

I'm sure they (transgenders) are apt to get beat up when they actually "trick" someone into believing they are not what they seem to be! Being honest about it seems to be the right way to go, in my opinion. But to go as far as murdering someone over it, no way!

Seems to me also, that these people that actually do trangenders bodily harm, even murder....are in fact, questioning their own selves/identity!

Yup, it already convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Judge has made right served.
 
Discrimination and the deaths from the discriminate against the GLBT are getting more and more old news, it really need to be stopped now! :mad:
 
About time! I hope less transgender murders happens and that when it happens, more cases end with killers being convicted.
 
While I do respect gays and lesbians' business, but I honestly dont support the transgender thing. I find that pretty awkward to changing your sex as it is like...changing your true identity or whatever but anyway, I am sorry for the life that was lost by that teenager. Murder over transgender wont do any good since he/she is still a person.

So I'm sorry for what happened to that person and that person who commited the crime shall seek the most fit able punishment possible.
 
It's not really gay/lesbian. It's different when someone is have sex crises identify.

You are right, the transgender community is not necessarily part of the gay/lesbian community, but it does qualify to be in this thread. LGBT not just LGB... the T is Transgender. Also, its not a sex crises identity, the medical term for someone who is transexual (male who identifies as female, female who identifies as male) is Gender Identity Disorder (GID).
Sorry if i'm coming off angry, It just bothers me when people in the LGBT community leave off the T... where else are we suppose to go? Yes I identify as Transgender, i also call it genderqueer... I do not feel the need to fit myself into a box.
 
Sorry if i'm coming off angry, It just bothers me when people in the LGBT community leave off the T... where else are we suppose to go? Yes I identify as Transgender, i also call it genderqueer... I do not feel the need to fit myself into a box.

You have a right to express your frustration because one does not have to fit in a box to identify oneself and one's sexuality.

I really commend you for expressing yourself in this.

Several of my friends belong to the LGBTTIQQ2S [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, and Two-Spirited] organisation because they understand that there is no particular "box" to fit in.
 
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