Defense: Andrade did kill transgender teenager

[tekla]

I don't know, some of that is up to the judge too.  The hard part of a murder one charge here is they have to prove he went there with the intent of killing her.  But I doubt he's walking anywhere but to the state pen.

[Lokaeign]

Did a bit of background reading on this trans panic defence nonsense.  Kind of wishing I hadn't.  Come back what I said about courts ignoring it and convicting murderers anyway.  Some of the sentences handed down have beggared belief.  For example, the man who cold-bloodedly murdered Chanelle Pickett in 1997 was sentenced to two years in prison, despite the fact that he freely admitted beating her to death for no other reason than she was trans.  http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2007/11/chanelle-pickett.html 

I knew things were bad, but I thought the problems lay more in the chasing up of offenders by law enforcement.  I figured that if such an offence actually got as far as the courts, the perp would at least be looking at a murder conviction.  Guess I was wrong.

A nice takedown of the trans panic defence is presented here, if you can wade through the footnotes:http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/lawreviews/meta-elements/journals/bctwj/25_2/Steinberg.pdf

[Genevieve Swann]

I beleive he was well aware of his actions. He had to find a weapon pick it up and use it. Probably more than one blow. There is no excuse for murder. If that is a crime of passion, how could he be so passionate over a TG if hate was not involved? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....

[Miniar]

Looks can be deceiving.
One of the best known serial killers of modern times looked like a "nice guy", looked like an honest, upright, "fine", gentleman.
He prooves that just because someone looks like a good guy doesn't mean he is.
Which works just as well in reverse.
Just because someone dresses like a gangbanger doesn't make him a killer.

However, this man has been proven to have killed Zapata and as such he "might" have wanted to at least dress like he had some respect for the process.

Never the less, I hope that the jury looks at the facts of the case and not the clothes on the man's back. Judge him on the evidence and not on appearance.
Cause that's how I would want to be judged.

[Shana A]

9News: Defense: Andrade did kill transgender teenager
by: Autumn Sandeen
Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:27:08 AM EDT

http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/10466/greeley-tribune-defense-andrade-did-kill-transgender-teenager

Correction: Article was from 9News. Greeley Tribune has their article here entitled Key question: When did Andrade know?, and they have an excellent twitter feed with much detail on the trial at www.twitter.com/greeleytribune.

From the Greeley Tribune's 9News's Defense: Andrade did kill transgender teenager:

    During the second day of jury selection, the prosecution and defense in the Allen Andrade murder trial gave a glimpse into how each side will proceed throughout trial.

    Thursday afternoon, the two sides presented what are called mini-opening statements to potential jurors.

    Such three-minute statements during jury selection are new to Colorado. The Colorado Supreme Court's Jury Reform Committee approved the use of them last year.

[NicholeW.]

O, he will be judged on looks. Does anyone think that just because jury members swear to not include anything not in evidence in their deliberations and judgements that they will not be affected by his looks?

But perhaps his actions will also be judged.

There's no doubt that death and murder come in sleek, good-looking, charming packages as well as in "just looks like he could do it" packages. And, LvC notwithstanding, I'd be wiling to imagine rather freely that accountants have been convicted of Murder One too! Tbh, any defendant should have sense enough to have at least his family spend some money on a suit. He should also be forewarned about his demeanor and facial expressions by even his public defender, most especially if you're gonna begin by saying "yes he killed her."

As is, if Mr. Andrade chooses to "signify" then I hope he's willing to take whatever comes with that. Is he an idiot? I believe that has already been proven: you murder someone, drive away in her car with her credit-card and spend the next two weeks driving that car recklessly and loudly at night and trying to use the credit-card. Not the best way to cover one's tracks.

Now the question is gonna be does his "panic" defense work to get him some charge other than Murder One.

If he continues the sport-shirt, tats and "tough" man image, then he will prolly lose his chance to get anything but Murder One. Fine with me. I won't have to be doing the time and perhaps a rollicking Murder One conviction in the face of the "trans-panic" defense will throw a bit of ice-water over the next droog who tries to use it.

Nichole