The fate of Allen Ray Andrade is almost in the hands of jurors. Both sides rested rested in the murder trial of 18-year-old transgender Angie Zapata (pictured, top). Closing arguments proceed today. And then, Andrade's "peers" will decide whether he's guilty of first-degree murder, or lesser charges (second-degree murder; second-degree murder, heat of passion; manslaughter; or criminally negligent homicide), or nothing at all (unlikely, given Andrade already admitted to beating Zapata to death … with a fire extinguisher).
"The degree of the crime goes down with each charge," notes the Greeley Tribune. "If the jury convicts him of a lesser crime, the Weld district attorney plans to introduce habitual offender charges and would be sentenced to four times the sentence he’d receive in the case."
It's hard to tell how much the "hate crime" element is playing in the minds of juror. Certainly, Andrade's defense team had its work cut out for them. When first arrested, Andrade told police, "I thought I killed it." Yesterday a prison phone call between Andrade (pictured, below) and girlfriend Felicia Mendoza was played in the courtroom, where the defendant "spontaneously" utters, "Gay things need to die." Another phone call played for jurors was between Andrade and former girlfriend Angie Tyree, where he tells her, "It's not like I went up to a schoolteacher and shot her in the head … or like I killed a law-abiding straight citizen."
But then there are witnesses like Andrade's roommate JJ Alejandro, who said the accused killer absolutely thought Zapata was a woman. The prosecution says Andrade knew of Zapata's MTF status at least 36 hours before he murdered her; they presented evidence the pair went to a traffic court together nine days prior to the murder, where Zapata was recognized as Justin, her birth name. Andrade's attorneys say he beat Zapata to death only after discovering she was born a man, and the crime was committed in the heat of the moment.
The Zapata family is expected to make a statement shortly after the verdict is read.
Interested in live coverage of the trial's finale? The Denver Westwood has a live blog.
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I sure hope he gets convicted, his callous disregard for human life is despicable and he like most of these so called, cough, straight guys know they are getting it on with a transgendered and then claim the panic defense.
this dude is guilty. he went to a bisexual hookup site and met angie. he knew she was a he. he killed her while she was asleep and stole her property including her car. he gave her purses to his on off girl friend. he admitted to the murder. they have phone calls.
the dude is guilty guilty guilty and i don't think his gay panic i was decieved defense is going to work. the prosecution proved he knnew what was what.
he is so psychopath and this was his first kill.
the roommate is one of his former girl friends who he was living with at the time of the murder. after the murder he went to another ex girlfriend and gave her angies possesions.
This defendant and his girlfriends are disgusting. To think that bashing someone to death as a reaction to the transgender status and laughing about it later saying Angie needed to be held "accountable" I think this disgusting man needs to be held accountable.
Thank god they found this guy guilty now let him go to jail forever and think about how he took this beautiful human being away from her family. My prayers abnd deepest sympathy go out to the Zapata family may god be with you always.
Woohoo! He was found guilty of 1st degree murder AND of a bias-motivated crime (Colorado's hate crime equivalent).
I do not wish this man well in prison or anywhere else in his life. At least there is some justice to be served. Let's see what he gets as a sentence.
It’s good to hear that Andrade is finally convicted. He deserved to be punished. It is also good to hear that the jury gives justice anyone, whether he is gay or straight. Let this case be an example to everyone.. Cheers..