A Colorado man by the name of Allen Andrade (seen-r), was convicted and sentenced to death for brutally murdering Angie Zapata (seen-l), a transgender woman that Andrade met over the Internet.
This marks the first time a hate crime law resulted in the conviction of a transgender person’s murder. It took the jury two hours to return its verdict, which was praised by members of gay and transgender rights groups.
This marks the first time a hate crime law resulted in the conviction of a transgender person’s murder. It took the jury two hours to return its verdict, which was praised by members of gay and transgender rights groups.
"This is a landmark decision," Mindy Barton the legal director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado, told CNN.
Barton attended the trial daily stating that, "Hearing guilty on first degree murder and guilty of 'bias-motivated crime' was an emotional experience for all the family, friends and supporters of Angie. She will not be forgotten."
Allen Andrade never denied killing Angie Zapata, although his defense team argued for a lesser verdict, contending that he acted in the heat of passion after discovering Zapata was biologically male. Prosecutors referred to Zapata as "she" throughout the trial, while the defense referred to the transgender teen as "he".
Defense attorney Annette Kundelius, argued that "when [Andrade] met him, he met him as 'Angie.’ "When he found out it wasn't 'Angie,' that it was 'Justin,' he lost control."
The jury was not convinced. "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."
Prosecutors argued that after Zapata, 18, and Andrade 32, met online last summer, they hooked up at Zapata’s apartment in Greeley, Colo., where they spent almost three days together.
While Zapata was away from the apartment according to court documents Andrade, noticed some pictures that made him think Zapata might be a man, CNN reports. When Andrade confronted Zapata about her sexuality she declared, "I am all woman."
Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia. Andrade told police he began pounding Zapata with his fists, and when she fell to the ground he picked up a fire extinguisher and hit her in the head, the documents show.
Believing he had “killed it,” he told police referring to Zapata; he covered the body in a blanket and cleaned up the crime scene. But as he was about to depart he said he heard “gurgling” sounds coming from the body and then Zapata sat up. That’s when Andrade hit her again with the fire extinguisher, the affidavit says.
The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations including Andrade telling a girlfriend, "gay things must die." He did not testify in his own defense.
Defense attorney Annette Kundelius, argued that "when [Andrade] met him, he met him as 'Angie.’ "When he found out it wasn't 'Angie,' that it was 'Justin,' he lost control."
The jury was not convinced. "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."
Prosecutors argued that after Zapata, 18, and Andrade 32, met online last summer, they hooked up at Zapata’s apartment in Greeley, Colo., where they spent almost three days together.
While Zapata was away from the apartment according to court documents Andrade, noticed some pictures that made him think Zapata might be a man, CNN reports. When Andrade confronted Zapata about her sexuality she declared, "I am all woman."
Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia. Andrade told police he began pounding Zapata with his fists, and when she fell to the ground he picked up a fire extinguisher and hit her in the head, the documents show.
Believing he had “killed it,” he told police referring to Zapata; he covered the body in a blanket and cleaned up the crime scene. But as he was about to depart he said he heard “gurgling” sounds coming from the body and then Zapata sat up. That’s when Andrade hit her again with the fire extinguisher, the affidavit says.
The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations including Andrade telling a girlfriend, "gay things must die." He did not testify in his own defense.
Although Zapata may have mislead the 32 year old Andrade into believing she was all woman, that still did not give him the right to take her life. No one has the right to take another person's life no matter what the situation.
How did Andrade not know Zapata was transgendered after spending three days living with her?
Maybe Andrade feared that someone would find out he was messing with a man, so he killed Zapata to cover up his tracks?
Either way, what he did was wrong and I'm glad Zapata and her family have received justice.
How did Andrade not know Zapata was transgendered after spending three days living with her?
Maybe Andrade feared that someone would find out he was messing with a man, so he killed Zapata to cover up his tracks?
Either way, what he did was wrong and I'm glad Zapata and her family have received justice.
2009 LA
