Justice for murdered transsexual

[fred41]

http://nypost.com/2013/12/06/hey-she-was-just-a-ho-sick-bid-by-killers-lawyer/

[fred41]

In a bizarre courtroom speech, a Queen defense attorney said the life of a murdered transgender prostitute wasn’t worth much — and argued that her convicted killer shouldn’t be punished as if he had killed someone “in the higher end of the community.”
“A sentence of 25 years to life is an incredibly long period of time judge,” John Scarpa said Thursday as he asked a judge to go easy on his client, Rasheen Everett, for killing hooker Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar in 2010.
“Shouldn’t that be reserved for people who are guilty of killing certain classes of individuals?”
Then, taking callousness to a new level, he said: “Who is the victim in this case? Is the victim a person in the higher end of the community?”
Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter scolded Scarpa as he sentenced Everett to 29 years in prison.
“This court believes every human life in sacred,” he said. “It’s not easy living as a transgender, and I commend the family for supporting her.”
Everett, 32, was convicted of strangling Gonzalez-Andujar last month. They had met through an ad, and he was allegedly shocked to find she had male genitalia.
Throughout the proceedings, Scarpa stunned the victim’s family as he detailed her sexual past.
“Amanda was engaged in a life of prostitution, life of drug use, HIV exposure,” Sharpa said. “She was having sex with other individuals knowing she had the chance of spreading diseases.”
The shameless Everett even chuckled throughout the emotional testimony of the victim’s brother, Ruben Andujar.
“The pain my family feels is unbearable,” Ruben had said. “It’s all like a nightmare, and I’m still waiting to wake up.”
Butcher blasted Everett, who declined to speak when the judge gave him the chance.
“The defendant is coldhearted and violent menace to society,” he said.
Everett winked at loved ones in court before he was taken away.

[Michelle Firestone]

29 years is not long enough. I hope it goes slooooooow for him

[fred41]

29 years is not long enough. I hope it goes slooooooow for him

I agree...This is a previous article about the actual trial. It's a quick read..

http://nypost.com/2013/11/08/killer-convicted-of-murdering-transgender-prostitute/

[Jimmy W]

"and he was allegedly shocked to find she had male genitalia"

Yeah, well where he is going, welcome to 29 more years of shock, scumbag.

[maxpower]

What a scumbag lawyer. Oh, wait...I'm being redundant.

[broncofan]

There is a misconception that lawyers have to do everything they can no matter how obscene to help their clients. In fact the model rules took out the word "zealous" when describing lawyer's responsibilities in advocacy. Yes, this man was obligated to defend a murdering scumbag, but he did not have to do it in a way that dehumanized the victim, even if he thought it would help.

No code of ethics would ever require someone to argue that another person's life is worth less because of who they are, even if there were a chance a jury or judge would be receptive to it. So what this attorney said, he said because he wanted to, not because he was obligated to say it.

I actually found a couple of other articles describing this man's incompetence, but I'm sure nobody wants to hear how incompetent he is, since what he did is much more inexcusable than that. He deserves pariah status for that speech of his.

[Hostile]

Amanda was my friend and a fantastic girl, she worked in the medical field in medical billing only her friends know the real truth. she wasn't escorting anymore, she met him on facebook not as an escort, believe nothing of what you read. I wish I had 5 minutes with both that defense attorney John Scarpa and that human piece of shit Rasheen Everett, I would show them both what true justice really is. And by the way, that piece of shit Rasheen Everett knew Amanda was a TS, he had sex with her first, that's what he wanted, DICK! Rest in piece my friend you are in our hearts, no judge, crooked lawyer or human piece of shit could take our memories and love for you.

[Lilsumpinwild]

That scumbag lawyer sounds like a closeted TS lover..... He was obviously projecting!

What's sad is that jail is not a just punishment for this fool. There are lots of TS girls in prison that will unfortunately be brutalized by this animal. I hope they keep him separated from his prey somehow..... Solitary confinement or capital punishment would be the best punishment for this scum.

[youngblood61]

29yrs not long enough!

[amberskyi]

I liked that the comments on the article were supportive and outraged...Times are changing people

[fred41]

...Times are changing people

I think you're right about that Amber...especially in the bigger cities...I've noticed this more and more through conversations with friends, acquaintances and co-workers. Positive change may be very slow in coming...but I think it is coming.

[qwerty81]

im shocked that the defense attorney thought that was a viable defense. unless the plan was win on appeal due to an incompetent lawyer.

[BBaggins06]

In a bizarre courtroom speech, a Queen defense attorney said the life of a murdered transgender prostitute wasn’t worth much — and argued that her convicted killer shouldn’t be punished as if he had killed someone “in the higher end of the community.”
“A sentence of 25 years to life is an incredibly long period of time judge,” John Scarpa said Thursday as he asked a judge to go easy on his client, Rasheen Everett, for killing hooker Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar in 2010.
“Shouldn’t that be reserved for people who are guilty of killing certain classes of individuals?”
Then, taking callousness to a new level, he said: “Who is the victim in this case? Is the victim a person in the higher end of the community?”
Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter scolded Scarpa as he sentenced Everett to 29 years in prison.
“This court believes every human life in sacred,” he said. “It’s not easy living as a transgender, and I commend the family for supporting her.”
Everett, 32, was convicted of strangling Gonzalez-Andujar last month. They had met through an ad, and he was allegedly shocked to find she had male genitalia.
Throughout the proceedings, Scarpa stunned the victim’s family as he detailed her sexual past.
“Amanda was engaged in a life of prostitution, life of drug use, HIV exposure,” Sharpa said. “She was having sex with other individuals knowing she had the chance of spreading diseases.”
The shameless Everett even chuckled throughout the emotional testimony of the victim’s brother, Ruben Andujar.
“The pain my family feels is unbearable,” Ruben had said. “It’s all like a nightmare, and I’m still waiting to wake up.”
Butcher blasted Everett, who declined to speak when the judge gave him the chance.
“The defendant is coldhearted and violent menace to society,” he said.
Everett winked at loved ones in court before he was taken away.

So taking this to its logical conclusion, if you were to kill a scumbag lawyer, you should be sentenced to about a week in jail ...

[broncofan]

I liked that the comments on the article were supportive and outraged...Times are changing people
Yes the comments were heartening. In the past, in certain articles I've seen nonsense about how assault is justified if maybe the guy is surprised (even when there's no evidence that's the case) or how someone who lives an "alternative lifestyle" bears their own risks.

I didn't see any of that bullshit, and I hope that's a new normal.

[Silcc69]

Wait until this story hits yahoo then ya'll see how folks roll. But that lawyer what a fuckin dick.

[danthepoetman]

I just can't understand people who think like that. Often, they pretend to be christians! How can you look at someone and see less there than in someone else? I don't believe in the "humanity" of humans. History has shown that we're capable of the worst at any time.
What this lawyer is expressing is his own inhumanity. A huge lack of empathy bordering on sociopathy.
Very sad story, in the end. This young woman had a lot to look forward to. Just disgusting.

[amberskyi]

Wait until this story hits yahoo than ya'll see how folks roll. But that lawyer what a fuckin dick.

I say this time and time again, the anonymity of the internet breeds trolls and shouldn't in anyway be taken as a serious reflection of society.
If one read the comment regarding Trayvon Martin or other racial matters you would think we was still picking cotton lol

[flabbybody]

That scumbag lawyer sounds like a closeted TS lover..... He was obviously projecting!

What's sad is that jail is not a just punishment for this fool. There are lots of TS girls in prison that will unfortunately be brutalized by this animal. I hope they keep him separated from his prey somehow..... Solitary confinement or capital punishment would be the best punishment for this scum.
If you want the worst fate for him root for general pop. Killing a defenseless trans girl puts him way down the pecking order of something to admire among fellow inmates. He'll suffer a living hell for every day of his decades long incarcination. He might end up begging for solitary.

[ilove2swallow]

that dudes waves are on swim, so they hate on him

[Stavros]

From what I have read of prisoners on death row appealing against their sentence, the quality of legal counsel at the 'bargain basement' level of justice in the USA is abysmal. Time and again the conduct of counsel seems inexplicable in something as important as a murder trial, and particularly so in those states which still retain the death penalty. We have had outrageous miscarriages of justice in the UK in spite of the assumption that our legal system offers high quality representation in court. Most often it turns on the evidence presented in court, and the means whereby crucial elements are withheld, as appears to have happened in this case. In the UK it has often been the police not disclosing all of their evidence in order to secure a conviction, and/or the prosecution not showing everything to the defence. For justice to be done, it must be seen to be done. I don't know how justice can be done if the victim is defamed in court and is literally powerless to respond.

[Ben]

What a scumbag lawyer. Oh, wait...I'm being redundant.

Transgender People Aren't As Valuable As 'Higher End' People, Argues Attorney - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoXqz2yNI7Y)