Why the Jury Had No Trouble Convicting Angie Zapata's Murderer

[Butterfly]

Why the Jury Had No Trouble Convicting Angie Zapata's Murderer
The Bilerico Project
Filed by: Guest Blogger
April 23, 2009 6:00 PM


http://www.bilerico.com/2009/04/why_the_jury_had_no_trouble_convicting_a.php


When I heard yesterday that the jury in the trial of Allen Andrade, the man charged with murdering Angie Zapata, had reached a verdict in less than two hours, I was hopeful, since a quick verdict usually means that the prosecution's evidence was so overwhelming that the jury saw no need for extended discussion. As I watched the judge read the verdicts convicting Andrade on all counts, my hope turned to elation. To the extent that our criminal justice system can actually deliver "justice," the jury did everything that we could have hoped for. My elation, however, was, and will always be, tempered by the knowledge that Angie, a beautiful young trans woman, will never have the opportunity to live the life of peace and dignity that all of us, trans- and cisgender alike, deserve.