Sorry for not being able to report this yesterday: At the Dwight DeLee of Syracuse was convicted of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime for shooting LaTeisha Green, a young black transgender woman, last November outside a house party.
DeLee becomes only the second person in the United States convicted of a hate crime that involved the death of a transgender victim. The first conviction was the recent Angie Zapata case in Colorado.
The 20-year DeLee faced second-degree murder as a hate crime and weapons charges. Judge William Walsh instructed the jury to also consider convicting DeLee of manslaughter as a hate crime, as well as murder or manslaughter without the hate crime element. The jury of six men and six women delivered the verdict after only six hours of deliberation over two days.
DeLee's defense attorney argued his client was not homophobic but several witnesses testified "they heard DeLee refer to Green as a 'faggot' just before Green was shot with a .22-caliber rifle while sitting in a parked car outside the party. But Johnson noted that other witnesses attributed the slur to others at the party."
Green's brother, 18-year-old Mark Cannon, is gay and was with his sister in the car when she was shot. Cannon, who was also shot by DeLee, testified DeLee was the fatal shooter. Also of note: Earlier this week, prosecutors said DeLee's family threatened witnesses after two witnesses recanted previous testimony.
LaTeisha Green was born Moses Cannon. At age 16 she decided to start dressing and living as a woman and was in the process of transitioning. Green was wearing jeans and a T-shirt the night she was killed.
Dwight DeLee faces up to 25 years in prison. The Advocate reports the judge will hand down the sentence on August 18. Given the mountain of evidence and the witness tampering allegations, it's likely he will get the full sentence. Unlike other recent cases.
Some Background ...
Witnesses Threatened in Syracuse Trans Murder Trial [R20]
Suspect Arraigned on Syracuse Transgender Murder [R20]
Hate Crimes Charges in Syracuse Trans Murder [R20]
Will Hate Crimes Charges Be Filed in Trans Murder? [R20]
No Bail for Syracuse Suspect, Victim ID'd as Trans [R20]
Black Syracuse Man Killed Simply for "Being Gay" [R20]
Family Defends Accused Killer of Trans Woman [R20]
What swayed the jury to convict in this case was the entire evolution of this killing. Evil attempts at witness tampering aside, the Syracuse DA had a mountain of evidence against DeLee. Kudos to Judge Walsh for giving the jury the hate crime enhancements. There need to be more forward-looking jurists like him, who appreciate the grievous nature of bigotry attending any assault on a human being.
I expect DeLee will get the full 25 years at sentencing. I hope the DA rolls up every single person who tried to threaten or otherwise coerce the trial witnesses. Let justice be their teacher, too.
Posted by: Nathan James | 18 July 2009 at 21:13
AMEN!
Finally some justice for our transgender sister. SOOOOO glad that the jury could see throw all of the muck and mire to see that this dude meant to harm this woman because she wasn't what made him "comfortable." Maybe he'll get comfortable about a bunch of "real" men!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 18 July 2009 at 21:35
Well, I'm glad that justice was finally served. Although I'm curious as to why the jury thought that the killer had only intended to harm LaTeisha Green instead of kill her. I was always under the impression that when you point a rifle at someone with the intent of pulling the trigger, you know that there is the distinct possibility that you could kill that person. Oh well, at least the family is content with the verdict. Maybe his cellmates will drill a new hole in him and make him the "woman".
Posted by: Ravenback | 18 July 2009 at 22:01
I'm glad to see that there is a guilty verdict. I hope this will be an ongoing trend, signaling that one cannot get away with murdering trans women.
Posted by: LaurynX | 19 July 2009 at 02:55
Amen
Posted by: ff | 19 July 2009 at 08:40
my internet has been down for part of week so i have missed a few of these stories about my beautiful black "t" sistahs.
okaay where to begin? so many emotions. i am so very very happy to see a conviction in this case. my black and latina trans sistahs and women have been abused, attacked and assaulted for far too long. and murdered! i am so glad that some 'justice' was served in this case. but it will not bring back beautiful lateisha.
on the other hand ... wow, an involuntary manslaughter conviction? what did he think would happen when shot the rifle? i can see why there was no murder conviction (it wasn't premeditated) but didnt he lure lateisha and her brother to party? surely he wanted some violence.
those feelings aside, we should be very proud that the hate crimes law was used here.
lateisha, i will say a prayer and light a candle for you.
Posted by: Baltimore Femme | 19 July 2009 at 13:54
I'm glad he was convicted of something, but 'Manslaughter'?!! Did he mean to tickle her with the rifle? Insanity!
Posted by: mjolnir202 | 20 July 2009 at 00:34