TLDEF STATEMENT ON VERDICT IN LATEISHA GREEN COURT TRIAL

[Shana A]

TLDEF STATEMENT ON VERDICT IN LATEISHA GREEN COURT TRIAL

http://transgenderlegal.org/press_show.php?id=290

New York, NY, July 17, 2009 -- The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today hailed the verdict in the court trial of Lateisha Green, a 22-year-old African American transgender women who was shot and killed on November 14, 2008 in Syracuse, NY. A 12-member jury found 20-year-old Dwight DeLee guilty of manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.

"Today, justice has been delivered for Lateisha Green with DeLee's conviction for committing a hateful act of violence," said TLDEF Executive Director and attorney Michael Silverman. "The jury's verdict provides Teish's family with the closure that they deserve and need, and sends a clear message that hate violence targeted at transgender people will not be tolerated."