Thursday, June 11, 2009

Update: Lateisha Green Murder Case

From Transgriot

With the Lateisha Green murder case scheduled to start in Syracuse, NY on June 11, an attempt made yesterday by Dwight DeLee defense attorney Clarence Johnson to wipe out the hate crimes charge against his client was struck down by Onondaga County Judge William Welsh.
[...]
After listening to the legal arguments, Judge Walsh sided with the prosecution and upheld the constitutionality of the state's hate crime law in the murder prosecution of Dwight DeLee.

The case will be allowed to go forward as a hate crime murder prosecution.

DeLee is charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime in the November 14, 2008 shooting death of transwoman Lateisha 'Teish' Green, born with the last name of Cannon, who the prosecution contends the victim was targeted because of her gender identity.
We can only hope this case will continue to be taken as seriously as Angie Zapata's was, and that it will serve as an example to all who think it's perfectly ok to abuse and ridicule trans-people for the reality of their bodies and lives (I'm looking at you Rob and Arnie).