07/17/2009
Syracuse Man Guilty in Hate Crime Killing of Transgender Woman
A jury in Syracuse, New York has found 20-year-old Dwight DeLee guilty of first degree manslaughter as a hate crime for shooting and killing transgender woman Lateisha Green outside a house party last November, the AP reports:
"[DeLee] becomes just the second
person in the U.S. convicted of a hate crime that involved the death of
a transgender victim. The Onondaga County Court jury delivered its verdict after deliberating for about six hours over two days. DeLee faces additional prison time because he was convicted of a hate crime. DeLee
was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime. But Judge
William Walsh told the jury that it could also consider convicting
DeLee of manslaughter as a hate crime, as well as murder or
manslaughter without the hate crime element."
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a statement regarding the verdict: "This verdict sends a strong message that hate violence will not be condoned. How many more like Lateisha Green must spill blood before our society says no to harassment, no to discrimination and no to violence against transgender people? We must move forward, at all levels of government, to pass laws that fight hate in schools, in workplaces and on the streets. We must continue working toward a culture that affirms the dignity and worth of all people. While no verdict will bring Lateisha Green back, justice was served today."
Posted 1:50 PM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, New York, News, Transgender | Permalink
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Wow. I guess the citizens of Washington DC can learn from the citizens of New York state what the importance of justice is. Justice aint behaving like the jury that freed the murderers of Emmitt Till 55 years ago--and that's what the Superior Court Jury in DC did. The New York Jury believed that the victim's life was worth acknowledging
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jul 17, 2009 1:58:45 PM
Finally, a just verdict.
Posted by: The Phoenix | Jul 17, 2009 2:49:28 PM
I was born and raised in Syracuse and it really is such a great liberal place! A am so proud that my city knows what justice really means! Most schools are very intergrated, I was able to take a guy to Prom (in 2001) and no one batted an eye, and they have great pot. I live in Boston now and am sometimes stunted by how Syracuse can be a more socialy liberal place then good old bean town.
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 17, 2009 2:50:52 PM
I live in Syracuse and am thrilled about this. I however don't find it as liberal as the other Jeff from Boston. Homophobia is alive and well here, having just been fired for being gay here in the 'cuse.
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 18, 2009 12:15:31 AM