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I sat down with Beth Karas of TruTV In Session this past Sunday, about the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder case, other cases that she’s covered for TruTV In Session (formerly CourtTV), and the great coffee we had at Café Woody’s in downtown Greeley.
Here’s an excerpt of the video (Thanks to Louise for the transcription!):
Autumn Sandeen: Why is “In Session” here and this isn’t the first trans case that “Court TV/ True TV In Session” has covered…Beth Karas: Let me tell you, first of all, when we pick trials we look for issues, and this of course has a very important issue. The first time, perhaps, that a transgender victim, where the case is going to trial, where the victim is transgender, and hate crime is also part of the charges, in the accusatory instruments. Not an indictment, here it’s the information.
So it’s very important, in only 11 states and the District of Columbia as you know, include transgender status within their definition of orientation in their hate crime (legislation).
So it’s important that people see this case, it’s an educational trial for people who are not familiar with the transgender community, and I value that educational aspect of it.
Jumping ahead to more on hate as relates to this case, but the information regarding the case Beth discusses at this point of a custody battle in Clearwater FL is remarkably eye-opening… (Louise)
Autumn Sandeen: …And this trial is going publically to be at least as educational. And again, we’re talking hate crimes. This is… you know, just from the outside looking in, this is an interesting case.
Beth Karas: You know, people need to understand all of the issues. We need to understand the translifesty- way of life. I can be criticized for saying lifestyle…. way of life, okay. I appreciate it, I need to be criticized, I’m learning too. And that’s the only way to really deal with the hate.
Autumn Sandeen: I just have one last question.
Friday I think we all noticed that the defense was using nothing but male terminology, you know, Angie’s male name, and calling her “he” and “him” the entire way through the trial, whereas we had family members, in fact Stephanie Zapata was strongly correcting the defense attorney at every turn. “My sister Angie, you mean my sister, Angie, my sister” and just over and over, and both sides were…
What’s your take on that little aspect of the (trial)?
Beth Karas: There’s no question that that was the headline of the day on Friday. We knew it was coming and those family members and friends were well prepared to respond the opposite of the quesions being asked and I wrote about that on the CNN.com (site)-
Autumn Sandeen: And we’re going to link to that, too.
Beth Karas: And, I mean, it’s such an awful tragedy, this case, but it was almost comical and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way, the way that the attornies were just “Justin” and “he” and that “Angie” and “she”, and “my sister”, and it’s like, come on people, let’s get it together.
This was the defense’s way, though, of illustrating the issue of the case. Because they of course are saying “provocation- rage-learning that the beautiful woman he was with, biologically a male”, somehow justifies or mitigates something less of, uh- it doesn’t justify the murder but it mitigates it from first degree down to second degree. So that’s their way of reminding the jury of the issue in the case.
And here’s the links that Beth mentioned:
- CNN Crime / TruTV In Session Video Feed of Angie Zapata Trial- Beth Karas Facebook Fan Page
- Beth Karas Blog Entry: Defense spars with victim’s family at trial
- Twitter: Beth Karas
6 Comments
Yay, Autumn!Great, great interview!
<3
Thank you for sharing the interview, I have been watching the trial on TV. The fact that the defense is trying to make Angie seem to be not human is getting me ill. I don’t think the jury is liking it very much either. This little bit by the defense to try and make Angie’s mother some how dislike the police, WTF does that have to do with anything?
I am glad to say Tru TV refers to her as Angie, So this adds to my feeling the jury is getting ticked at the name and gender game by the defense. It also is what I said in another post. Everyone has know Angie as Angie.
I truly believe the defense is wrong to try to dehumanize her.
Standard defense tacticIf you can dish up an unlikeable corpse, the murderer is a lot more likely to walk or get a lesser sentence. Given the facts in this case, making Angie and everyone who loved her seem like monsters is probably the only defense tactic that might work.
I don’t share the common dislike for all lawyers. Shannon Minter is absolutely terrific, for instance. But geez, that profession sure produces some scum. I know. I’ve worked with them on and off for years.
Yea for Tru TVI think Ms Beth is awesome and her reporting is so powerful. Great job Autumn, you look wonderful and I’m glad that people are rejecting the awful tactic’s of the defense.
What Beth didn’t mentionis that, in July 2004, the Florida Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision finding Michael Kantaras to be legally male. The Court held that the terms “male” and “female” “refer to immutable traits determined at birth.” Therefore, “any marriage that is not between persons of the opposite sex determined by their biological sex at birth” is invalid under Florida law. Everything that Michael had done as part of his transition – hormonal treatment, surgery, legal change of name, new birth certificate, passport and driver’s license showing his sex as male – as well as testimony by several experts that he was “medically and legally” male was ignored. Courts in Texas, Kansas and Ohio have reached the same conclusion. An appellate court in New Jersey, a trial court in Orange County, CA and a specialized appellate court that deals only with immigration matters are the only courts in the U.S. that I know of that have held to the contrary.
I will never understand the lengths that courts, lawyers,, and bible thumpers will go to try and punish us trangender people when it deals with who we are on paper. The state of Illinois has the most screwed up law regarding birth certificates. They will not recognize GRS performed out side of the United States.
Who does it harm when a person has their gender marker changed to match who they are? Would having my BC corrected from Male to Female cause the stock market to crash? This is how messed up this BS is.
OH Shit, Joan just got her Birth Certificate changed and the Hoover Dam came tumbling down. Mark got his changed and two airplanes flew into the World Trade Centers.
I know what having mine changed would do for me. Its a psychological thing, just knowing that all my legal documents matched who I really am. But no, some shit for brains politician had to make a few points with their religious fuck nut constituents to get elected.