An update on the previous post, Trans-panic Defense Alive And Well In Palm Beach.
A 17 year old Florida teen was found guilty of a second-degree felony of aggravated battery when he assaulted a 39 year old transwoman. Further details of the beating were learned when one of the police officers testified.
From the Palm Beach Post:
“Palm Beach police Sgt. Jennifer Sandman, who interviewed the teen on the morning of the incident, testified at Monday’s trial in juvenile court that he seemed arrogant and told her he beat the transsexual until his hand was sore.
He said he left to look for his cellphone in his friend’s car, then returned to beat the 39-year-old again, Sandman said.”
Another witness that was on the beach that night testified that:
“that the teen forced her to kneel in the sand while he punched her and slammed her head into a lifeguard stand where he was sitting. The impact shook the stand, he said.”
While the judge did find him guilty he said he didn’t believe this was a hate crime.
“The teen did not seem to beat the victim because of sexual orientation, but because of his anger and desire for retribution.”
‘Your anger, from your perspective and from many other people’s perspective, may be justifiable anger,” Blanc said. “But the act that you committed in that anger cannot be justified under our existing system of laws.’
and added:
“In many ways it appears from the testimony that was presented here that there are two victims in the case.”
Two victims? I’m glad the judge ruled appropriately, but his comments after the fact seem to indicate sympathy for the accused.