Closing arguments today in transgender murder trial

I believe he was probably looking for a sexual relationship with a homosexual male or a male-to-female transgender person. He found Angie and obviously she was what he was looking for. However after spending time together their relationship change from one that was strictly sexual to one with feelings. He began to care for her and maybe even start to love her but, because of Andrade hatred of LGBT people he probably became disgusted with himself. So in order to rid himself of his "gay" feelings he had to get rid of Angie. Therefore his hatred of himself lead to the brutal murder of Angie Zapata.

Here is my take......he flew into a rage because he wanted to move in with Angie and she told him no way. She probably saw his violent tendencies during the 48 hour period. I think rejection drove him to a sensless murder. He knew all along she was transgenered. He should go to prison for life. I think the prosecution should be alittle more forth right about the entire murder case..........This is Colorado, hate crimes take a back seat to justice here. Broomfield, Colorado

I'm not saying the defendant isn't guilty of murder, but portraying Justin as a female is both morally and legally WRONG. HE CHOSE to live HIS life as a female. But the bottom line is He was still a male. Shame on our JUSTICE system and the media for feeding the LIE.

I find it funny that the web site they were communcating on (MOCOSPACE), when translated from Spanish to english means BOOGER SPACE!!!!! I find it interesting that no one has mentioned this earlier?!?!?!

Dang thiis guy is guilty.... He basically called this boy or girl a fag and thats like calling a black person the n word..... This dude should be tortured.

I was wondering if Angie had any facial hair . This would probaby have been a better excuse for discovering that maybe Angie was a male than the defendant stating he had to "grab" Angies crotch {ala Crocodile Dundy} after a couple of days together. I cannot buy into Andrades defence, Guilty murder 1st.

My feeling on this case is this. I think there maybe a possibility that this defendent knew that justin was a man. I also beleive that the defendent could be bi-sexual. and that he was involved in a gang. that maybe in his mind, he couldn't risk the chance of his gang member's finding out, and felt he had no choice but to kill justin to silence him to keep his sexual preference quite,and to keep justin from telling his true identity..how can u live with a man for several day's, and not know he was a man?..i beleive the defendent is gay and or bi and to keep face with his friend's and gang brother's he couldn't chance that exposure. beside's they did find a vibrator with his dna on it..and he did have justin preform oral sex on him...come on it doesn't take a rocket sciencest to figure out, with deleted gay site's and dna on vibrator. the defendant is gay!..and he had to kill the only person in his mind, that could ruin his life.

Yes, we all "figure" that Andrade used the pink vibrator up his rectum; thus yielding an abundant amount of DNA. All the facts in this case have been talked about plainly. Why doesn't the prosecution state it plainly? I think that would really make Andrade want to die right there and then. Why beat around the bush? Alas, that reminds me of the old cliche,"opinions are like assholes,everyone has one." Come on people lighten up!!!!!

I am a “passable” pre-op transgendered woman like Angie. And I defiantly have been put in the situation with men where I have to decide… “ when do I tell him I was not born a woman” Let’s be honest. Most men try to touch a woman in spots when your “making out” his hands go places things happen and it would not take 48hours of being intimate for him to realize, he is not dealing with a biological woman. We just don’t drop our panties and say… “ SURPRISE” !
This is a simple case ( buyer’s remorse…..) I have had occasions where told I was TS/TG, decided to be intimate with me…. Yet only regretted the decision after we” completed” the act.

Yes you are a marked man being in a Gang with a Ts woman. I dated a man who was in a Latino gang in the Bronx and he would tell me all the time that he would be killed if any of his " homeboys" found I was a ts! The fact that Gang members are expected to react to a ts woman with violence should have defiantly been included in the testimony!!! It is not a secret !!!!

It makes me sick to think that there is even a remote possibility that this coward may get away with murder. There is no doubt in my mind that Andrade knew exactly who and what Angie was before he even met her face to face. How can you look at the evidence and say that it was not premediatated? He went to court with her and heard her birth name being announced as she answered to it. And forget the cigarette, look at the lone DNA eveidence found on the vibrator that was in Angie's home! Andrade's DNA was the only trace they found on it. That right there is proof enough that he knew. He knew that she was born a male. He knew that she was gay. And he now knew that he was as well. After using Angie, he was ashamed. He couldn't leave any proof of what he did and he killed her in cold blood while she was sleeping. Nothing about his defense makes any sense. If you were that disgusted with an individual, you wouldn't steal their belongings to give to an ex-girlfriend. You wouldn't steal their car and use it for your own discreation. You wouldn't take their debit card. You would completely distance yourself from that person instead of leaving a trail. He deserves more than he is going to get. What he deserves is the death penalty. How dare he say that "gay things need to die" when he allowed himself to be sodomized with a toy. And if that is truly how he feels, then he cannot deny the fact that he deserves to. By his own words, he is telling you what should happen to him.

And how offensive can the defense be? Just a petty attempt to prove Andrade's innocense, they refuse to awknowledge Justin as Angie. I understand what they are trying to do, but it's not working.

This is a case of premediatated murder. He knew she was born a male. He knew that she did not keep that a secret. He knew what he was doing when he became sexually active with her. He knew what he was doing when he beat her to death in her sleep and tried to cover it up.

Angie did not deserve what happened to her. She deserved to live a long ,happy and beautiful life as she was. She was well loved and is terribly missed. I wish I could have known her, I feel as if I missed out.

Angie was a human being. She wasn't some circus freak that got what was coming to her. She did nothing to provoke this, or to ask for this. Andrade's realization of what he himself was drove him to kill her. He was ashamed of himself and coudn't risk the witness to what he had done.

He is guilty. And if it went my way, he'd be on death row.

Well im a transgirl myself and i just feel like that every time i hear cases on hate crimes against transwomen and transmen but mostly transwomen ...Every person or especially men say" omg this person has penis and it scared me" right? So a person panic and killed the person even though as a man he has a penis and he was scared of a transgirl who happen to have a gentellia of a male;As if he never saw one when he has one?Even though the penis dont make the person their gender but this person who killed angie identifies as a male and has a penis. So i dont know how he had a panic attack but whatever ... Just get tired of this excuse.... When its not....

My comment centers around Andrades lawyers and the way they kept insisting on calling Angie "Justin" on the stand, They seen how distraught the family was but insisted on rubbing salt in thier wounds by calling 'her' "Justin" or "your brother" I believe that heartless banter did more to convict Andrade than anything he said or could of said himself. Wether you agree with her lifestyle or not it does not excuse you from showing compassion to a murdered loved ones family. I think he has no chance at the lessers now because of that heartless insistance.

I think that no matter what she was someone that did not deserve to die,i think he was Bi sexual himself and got mad that he spent time with her did not want it to come out to anyone so the only way he could keep this from happening was to kill her,i believe in my heart that he was full aware that she was not totally a female but was more scared that it would come out to family and friends that he spent several days
with her and in that time iam sure that it did come out that she was not female totally,it is sad that there are people in this world that would hate someone enough to kill them when they are not guilty of anything except wanting everyone to just like them for who they really are and be open minded and be a friend.
Randall Beatty

If "Angie" did not have the sex change surgery, she was a HE and should not be referred to as female.

Dressing up like an astronaut does not make me one.

Considering both of these people and their lives, I find it hard to feel bad about either of them.

I find it hard to believe Mr. Andrade did not know Angie was a man, We are talking about a man who frequented bisexual and gay chat rooms on dating sites. The all of a sudden he is claiming he was deceived! guilty on all counts!!!!!

I believe it is possible a man could snap at the thought, of having sex with another man.

While I think it is very wrong to harm another person. I could imagine the anger and surprise to find out the person you thought you knew wasn't actually who you knew. I think that guy (Justin) should have been up front and honest and none of this would have happened,

I believe the witness purposely dressed like that to show disrespect for this particular case and not necessarily the court.

I'm baffled at Jami's comment about the attorney presenting a very effective examination of the Greeley police officer. How can you say that immediately after showing a clip where it took the woman three attempts to even communicate a remotely intelligible question? The poor witness just looked at her blankly before voicing his inability to understand her gibberish. That's effective??? Oh, well, it's a lawyer thing, I guess....

Was there ever any electronic proof that Angie told him she was transgender? Was there a computer that the police pulled from Angie's apartment and went through, cell phone text messages, emails, Instant Messages etc......

The justice system amazes me. This murder is truly a hate crime like so many others that was deemed not hate crimes! If Mr. Andrade is convicted, thumbs up to the court system! My brother was murdered in a gay bar on 9/22/2000 in Roanoke, Va. They somehow ruled that Mr. Ronald Gay actions was not considered a hate crime! Murder is murder to me!!

The entire topic of Angie Zapata passing as a female is totally bogus. Of course she dressed and presented herself as female. That is what being a transgender female is all about. How dare the defense suggest that because she appeared as an attractive female is a reason to be brutally murdered. The statement was made that Angie did not look like a transgendered female. Oh my God, how do people think that a transgender female should look. This is so ridiculous. All transgender females work hard to appear female. The whole idea of being a transgender female is to live your life as a female in every possible way. The idea that Angie would NOT try to look female is idiotic. I myself am a transgender female and am appalled by such ignorant ideas. Why would a trans-female try to look like a male? I hope that the jury is intelligent enough to realize this. It is obvious that the defense is just grabbing at straws.

re: Justin/Angie

I am having a problem with the defense witnesses constantly ignoring the proscution questions regarding Justin, and the witnesses answering as Angie.
Lets face it.
#1. the birth cirtificate says Gender, Male
#2. drivers licence says Gender, Male
#3. Social Security says Gender, Male
If Justins family & friends approved and supported his lifestyle, that is their option, but, this person was born & died a male and I think the Judge should not allow the answers that refer to Justin as either Angie, or She.

I wanted to know why the Pages of texting or messaging was thrown out in the court by the judge? isn't that key evidence? couldn't they retrieve the comments on her profile since he deleted his? THANK YOU!

Brianna

This dude is guilty as charged. How u dooooin'

I have met a transgender girl lately, and these pple are very VERY convincing. I took her to a party and ALL the guys thought she was a girl, one thought she was an ugly girl but let me tell you she left with a guy, didn't sleep w him and he dropped her off @ my house the next day and he was clueless, he even kissed her as she left his car. She dated him for about another week, he NEVER knew. After i revealed that yes in fact it was a girl, it was like he COULD NOT believe me. Like all his animalistic instincts towards women were wrong and that couldnt be true.

I'm the mother of a bisexual daughter. She has gay, lesbian, transwhatever they want to be called friends.

My daughter has a friend; we'll call him Victor/Victoria. Victor/Victoria was born a male, but had a very feminine way to him. He dated gay guys, that were feminine like him.

At 16 he decided he was in the wrong body, and was saving up for the "Slice and Dice" operation. When he decided he wanted to become a women he started dated, not gay guys, but gangsters. Everyone was very scared for him. We asked him if he told these guys, and he said no. It was like a challenge for him to see how he can fool these men into thinking he was a female.

See you have to realize when someone is 14, 16 years old, dating a gay guy is innocent. When you're 18, dressed up like a women and dating a "MAN" now that's trouble. A man that thinks you're a female.

Take a pole on this subject.

Ask the question: if you thought you were dating a women, and found out he was a man "What would you do? And remember these people you are asking have time to think about it. Did Andrade?

Ok back to Victor/Victoria; after all the drama he put everyone through with he wanted to be a women, surgery and all. He's married with baby on the way.

Moral of the story: Yes Justin's family excepted him as their sister and a female, but that doesn't mean society will do the same. Justin was still a male.

How can any prospective witness take their personal appearence seriously in this court room? Their attire choice seems fitting as the prosecution doesn't seem to take the legal setting and/or rules too seriously. Through out this trial the prosecution has referred to the victim as "she" and "Angie". He is legally a male and should be referenced as such. All LEGAL documentation (DL, birth certificate, etc) identify him as Justin, a male. Evidently the oath taken by witnesses to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" doesn't apply to this group of prosecutors. If I remember correctly the victims own parents (or mother) would not acknowledge Justin as Angie. Why have we not seen or heard from Justin's parent or parents? Only from siblings who appear to associate themselves with an extremely shady lot with their numerous "jailhouse" tatoos and piercings all over their faces. The state must have spent alot of time cleaning them up for their appearence on the witness stand. What juror would place ANY credibility in their testimony if they looked as they normally would?

I met my husband on-line. We talked for a month,then met in a public place and a year later we we're married. That was 5 years ago. That said, I also met some real losers. I was lucky and careful.
Angie was a lovely lady and didn't deserve what happen. No matter what sex she chose to live her life, she deserved better than this. I think he was just trying to cover the fact, he is bi-sexual and his so called straight friends wouldn't understand.

I'm in Denver and I'll be angry if the verdict is anything less than first degree murder.

As the facts have unfolded it has become clear that Andrade knew Angie was transgender. He met her on a bi-sexual section of a social website. He went to court with her and heard her name called as Justin. DNA from HIS rectum is on a sex toy.

These may be "circumstantial evidence" but they give me enough proof to believe that he killed her not because he found out her secret but because he wanted to protect his own secrets.

Andrade didn't have the strength or courage to accept his sexuality, whatever it may be. The despicable irony of this case is that he killed someone who did have that strength and couarge and then tries to defend himself by portraying her as the deceptive person.

My sincere condolences to Angie's family and I applaud them for the unconditional love they gave her during her too short life.

I believe Allen Andrade killed Angie because he allowed his bi or homosexual tendencies to come to surface. After realizing people would find out about what he did (having had sex w/another male) he feared what his peers (gang members) would think/do, so in his paniced state he got angry and took it out on Angie. I think he had feeling for her but knew he couldn't allow news of their relationship to come to light. She suffered for HIS deception!

In my eyes he is gulity no matter what he can control his emotions and he is no one to take the life of any one he did not have that right no matter what in my eyes he is guilty and I feel that he was to macho to face his own sexuality and took it out on Justine and that does not justify that he take someone elses life regardless what the other perosns prefrence.

It could have been a crime of "passion" until the victim woke up and made a sound...then he went back and finished the job. THAT'S PREMEDITATED

I'm with you, Brianna.

I'd like to know what was in the 700 text messages that went back and forth between them in the few days they knew each other.

I'd also like to know if Andrade disclosed everything about HIMSELF to Angie prior to them hooking up.

Did she know that he was a violent gangbanger with several felony convictions?

The Prosecution did a horrible closing argument and helped The defense more than their own case! The defendant is NOT reasonable otherwise he wouldn't commit the murder!

hi my name is Jen. I live in Cin, Ohio and 35 yrs old. I am a Gay rights activist and outraged about this case here we go again another words just like the Gwen Ajiho case. Angie Zapata was so young and had her whole live ahead of her. just becasue she was differant and throgh her nieveativaty un forotunately got her killed. Allan needs to be charged with first degree murder of a hate crime. This needs to be classified as a hate crime indeed. I hope he gets life without the possablitay of porale. He just sits there, with no remorse. Please, I hope the judge and jurry see this. thank you jen

Nicolle, I agree with you. I think that he knew she was biologically a 'he' and just wanted the sexual experience with a transgender, and then once it was over, was disgusted with himself for doing it, and so in order to 'wash his hands' clean of what he had been part of, needed to get 'rid' of every part of what he had done.

I wonder if homosexual activity of defendant while defendant was in prison was looked into in order to show he did not object to sex with a male??

I can't help but wonder how smart it is for Andrade's lawers to keep referring to Angie as Justin. It smacks of disrespect for the victim.

I'm listening to her closing argument and I think she's hoping or counting on the jurors either being biased towards gay/transgender people..or just plain stupid.

The defense team are just rounding their self up they just need to give up because he murdered Angie he admitted to it. Then he has the nerve to talk about the things he did with Felicia but to the defense team its ok to talk like that about someone he just killed. I dont understand do they not realize or they just in it for the money?. I hope they charge Allen with first degree murder and every other charge they can because its not ok to kill someone because they are transgender they are still human they still breath the air we do, and thats all they are focusing on is that angie is transgender. Yeah she was a transgender but still human its the same if he would kill someone else. About the apartment looking like a girl lived there and her clothes and all yeah duh cause Angie was a girl stupid i tell you see thats what im getting out of this and ive been following this since day 1.

Um...

Did she really just say that?

That the fact that they found Justin's semen in his own underwear is proof that there was sexual contact between him and Andrade?

Really?

He spends three days with him/her and doesn't know......really.....seriously....really! He's got his DNA on a vibrator. He's on a site that proclaims bisexuality. He's away from Thorton where he's unkown and can explore this activity with anonimity. He's in a gang with a no tolerence policy for homosexuals. He realizes three days of exploration with fear of being found out might jeopordize his life....ie girlfriend, family, gang members, etc. So he kill he/her.

He's a closeted homosexual with a fear of himself. GUILTY!!!!!!!!!!

HE had a penis. HE was a man. PERIOD. It's not up for discussion, it is what it is.

Regardless, this is a terrible story and this guy needs to go away for a LONG time. What a scum bag.

You also can't expect to start a relationship based on lies and then expect everything will be ok...

i am a female to male transgender married to a male to female transgender living in wyoming. since starting our transformations we have both had more verbal abuse from genetic females than physical threats from genitic men. i am not surprised the most hateful comments on this blog are from women. life is hard enough already without people spewing hate to total strangers. walk a mile in my shoes first............

I was on the first jury of another transgendered murdered teenager years ago in California. Eddie 'Gwen' Araujo. Watching this trial is so difficult. Gwen was beaten for hours before she died, in this case by 4 individuals. Same defense, they found out her gender and couldn't control themselves. On the jury, if you are true to the 'rules' we were given, you need to divide your feelings and emotions and focus on the facts. It is very difficult and the emotions that are released when the trial is over is unbelievable. For me, once all of the facts were in, it was incredible to me how this defense affected so many of the jurors. Whether it be a transgendered person or any person, it is a very sad awareness I gained of the world's disconnect for human life. JMO

Been folowing the case and really belive that the police should look into the girlfriend of the defendant. She knew he was on the web sight and that it was the bi section. And she was riding around in the victims car and spending her money. I think it was a robbery gone bad that her and him were going to rob the victim and it got out of hand.

My heart goes out to “Angie’s” family. What a terrible vicious death this young person suffered. I am a straight female; however, I believe it is each individual’s right to do what ever they want to do. That is what makes our country such a great country, that we as individuals have the right to the pursuit of happiness. I don’t think that right is limited to only straight people. It really saddens me that there are such hateful people in this country. Having said that, I do believe that Angie, or any transgender person really does have a responsibility to tell the person or persons they are close to. I don’t think they have to let the whole world know, but when the person knows they are becoming friends with someone I do believe they should tell them.

I believe that if Andrade had spent three days and nights with Angie before he killed her that he had to have known on the first day/night that Angie was physically a man. Also hearing that he was on the bisexual chat room on that MOCO leads me to believe that he was looking for a person like Angie. I think that he might have bi feelings, and that after spending those days with Angie started to worry about his reputation. I dont believe he jusy snapped. I think he thought it out carefully in the hours just prior to Angie's brutal beating. I believe he will be found guilty; however of which degree of murder I am not sure.

This case makes me sick to my stomach. The defense attorneys had no business bringing this to trial because their client is guilty of murder and has already admitted it. They should have pleaded with the prosecutor for a second degree guilty plea bargain in exchange for 25 year or less prison term. Secondly, the defense should have never referred to the victim as a man because it just enrages the family of the victim and destroys any sympathy they might have gained from the jury. The victim is not on trial, the defendant is. Making an issue out of the victim's gender only hurts the defense. I believe the defendant is guilty of second degree murder and he should have plead guilty to that without risking being found guilty of first degree simply because he is trying to obfuscate, deny and minimize his culpability in the crime.

I think it's disgusting that the defense is trying to blame the victim. Just like in the past people blamed rape victims. Angie is not on trial here, the man who murdered her is! He knew her history, they must have had a falling out of some kind and he killed her in a rage. In our society murderers go to jail, no ifs, ands or buts.

I believe that Andrade knew Angie was ttransgender and that was ok with him but I feel that maybe Angie was engagin in a conversation that led Andrade to believe she might out him (not necessarily in a bad way) to his family and friends and he just could not deal with the fact of anyone knowing he had sexual interests in men as well as women. Like most males who are not secure in their maleness and have feelings of a sexual nature for other men they protest way too much about their hatred of gays and try to put out their very macho selves. Also, who are we as a society to judge anyone on how they choose to live their lives. Is that not for God to judge when they face him at the end of their lives?

Does anyone else wonder if the defence atty needs to go home and take a shower after that bull crap she had to say to protect her client. I think i would have to throw-up.

Wow.... he committed murder.Point blank. I am not gay. I dont go to gay chat sites either. Wghat was the suspect looking for....prey? It disgusta me that a life was taken but we are discussing deception when this low life stole the victims car a nd credit card. Wa that somehow related to his initial shock of finding out she was really a man? Lol, thats just ridiculous.

Seems like the defence is grasping at straws even contradicting themselves,poor things,can't stick to one story cuz they know they are defending a loser that has commited 1st degree murder no matter how you slice it.

Ummmm.... If he killed him/her to prevent his own sexuality from getting out, that's not a hate crime, now is it? I'm not saying it isn't murder, just that it isn't a hate crime. I have to, for honesty's sake, disclose my personal disdain for "hate crime" legislation – murder is murder, assault is assault, unlawful confinement is unlawlful confinement, and so on. Hate crime legislation does not create new crimes, it adds a charge to what is already a crime, which is utterly unfair. It's like being charged with disorderly conduct, assault, battery, interfering with flight staff, and so on for a single act. One act = one crime and the most sever takes precedence: For example, you can't very well murder someone without attempting to murder them and assaulting them with a deadly weapon, but if you succeed it is murder, not all three....

Whether or not Andrade was "surprised" or "shocked" or whatever, he didn't just slap or punch the guy and leave. Nope. He beat the guy to death with a fire extinguisher. If he was truly acting on "impulse" then anybody who hurt his feelings or shocked him or whatever would suffer the same fate. Nope. I think this was pre-meditated murder. His thinking is "If you get 'caught' with a transgender or gay person, you kill them. No exceptions."

Deception hmmm, he should get manslaughter.

"Gay things need to die"? No, not a hate crime at all. Really?
It matters not at all if he know or if he didn't. It's still murder and a hate crime.

GUILTY! period. end of story. He is a sociopath.

I find it really hard to comprehend the defendant's claim that the killing of Angie Zapata was due to a heat of passion. One would have to know that using an object to brutally beat a person on the head would bring about the death of that person. Having said that, how can a sleeping person provoke such rage? That, in itself, suggests the defendant lay in wait.

the bottom line is this guy killed a human being....it does not matter if she were transgender or not, A LIFE IS A LIFE it was not up to him to take her life because of who she was. he new it all along and liked it thats why he stayed with her for a couple of days, he just didn't want anybody else to know he was gay so he had to get rid of her...hell he probably couldn't come to terms with his own sexuality. I say givem' the chair!!!

I would like to say that I feel like this defendant is guilty of 1st degree murder. With that being said, TV land has only heard the notion once that maybe the defendant was on the MocoSpace "bisexual" portion of this site, looking for women who liked being with both women and men. In my experiance as a single woman, lots of men like the idea of two women engaging in sex at the same time with the man participating as well.
I believe that this man is guilty of 1st degree murder, with out doubt. However, much to my dissapointment, I can also see that this situation may have started solely in the hopes of engaging in a threesome of the defendant and two women.
Regardless, he is guilty of beating this beautiful person, brutally to death. Angie did not deserve death for being beautiful or aware of her sexuality or for any other reason for that matter.
LaLa in Denver.

I totally think that he knew Angie was transgender. I don't know much about any of that world except what I see on tv, but as far as I am concerned, everyone is different and we need to be more accepting of our differences. He is guilty guilty guilty. This is a hate crime and the fact that he was not charged with a hate crime says how little our justice system accepts people who are different. He needs to pay for his crime, murder is murder no matter who it was. This guy took someone's baby. Angie had her whole life ahead of her and at 18 she was just at the legal age to change her name and her sexuallity, I kinow it is a long process and I hope anyone out there going through these changes all the luck and best wishes.

to Nicole H.: You speculate too much which is not a representation of the facts presented in the trial. I don't think it's reasonable to say Andrade is completely culpable even though I don't think he's a "reasonable person" at all; he's a monster who allowed his rage to dictate his actions and deserves a life sentence regardless of what "level" the jury convicts him on. He's definitely a sociopath who needs to remain locked up forever.

I have read through all the opinions and possibilities that could explain how this tragedy could have occured. It is my opinion that perhaps Mr. Andrade, although has said that "gay things should die" obviously made that statement while sitting in jail. Which could explain that he made the statement out of anger. From the testimony that was given by both sides, there is no evidence that Mr. Andrade had a history of violence toward women, or of anyone that might be considered "transgendered". Also, there is no evidence that Mr. Zapata informed Mr. Andrade that he in fact was transgendered. It is easy to fault Mr. Andrade based on his gang affiliation and previous criminal record. But Mr. Zapata also had a responsibility to inform Mr. Andrade he was transgendered and failed to do so, This unfortunately is the reason he is deceased.

i have been following this trial for the last few days and have a knot in my stomach about what the jury will decide....there are so many misconceptions of the GLBTQ community and i cannot stand it when people say that its a choice...you don't decide to be who you are no more than anyone else does.

what angie did was be who she was. i know transgendered people and have grown to understand what those feelings entail...never feeling like you are who you should be, the fear of being found out and how people will react if the 'truth' comes out.

i pray for a guilty verdict. i pray that the family finds some peace in the verdict. i pray for those that are still ignorant of the world around them and can use backwards logic to justify bigotry. i pray for a time when a person can be who they are without fear for their life.

I have watched all the coverage of this trial. After listening and looking at everything put forward by both Defense and Prosecution – the guy is guilty. Guilty of all charges including the hate crime. I intentionally formed this opionion without reading all the stuff that leaked out. I read it after the fact about the confession being thrown out, etc.

From the evidence my personal conclusion is that the guy had some fascination or tendency to want to try some gay or bi sex. I am gay myself and have had friends that were trasngender and some that were drag queens. From my own experience trasngender women (and yes, drag queens which aren't the same necessarily – please don;t be offended I am putting the two together) usually end up with men that are bi or staright. It is easier for them to be with an indivisual as this. It helps them keep a sense of their "straight" masculinity.

I think he explore this side and after serval days and hundreds of texts/phone calls he decided to go for it. He didn;t know anyone in Greeley and it would be a safer environment for him to explore this. He went and they did whatever during those days. I think he knew what he was getting into. The night of the murder they went and got liquor. I think something he started thinking about what he was doing and how he counld never keep this up and he decided to kill her. In her sleep – he killed her. there were no defensive wounds and she was laying down. Her legs were crossed the same way they were crossed as she slept accroding to witnesses. She was wearing sweat pants and a T-Shirt. I don;t think she would be wearing this if she did not feel comfortable around Andrade.

I think he took her phone to get rid of the evidence of his connection to her and he deleted his account on Mocospace. It is a hate crime because he killed her for being trasngender and was evidence to his own sexuality issues which he despised!

He is guilty of first degree murder.

to David ONeal

As per the law, Mr. Andrade's prior offenses, for which the judge will consider whether or not he is a "habitual offender" were NOT presented to the jury because Andrade did not take the stand. Had he taken the stand, his lengthy criminal record and gang affiliation would have been presented to the jury. I've been trying to find out just what those prior 4 FELONY convictions were but have been unable to as yet...

kiling is wrong no matter what. I do feel that Justin should have been straight forward as to the fact that he was actually a man. Growing your hair and fingernails long and wearing mak-up doea not make you female. He sould have done the hormones and surgery to become female. The family of Justin needs to realize that although they accept justin as female, not all of society will. I believe Justin was playing a very dangerous game that ultimately took his life. The fact that this man who killed him had been to traffic court and knew the real name was Justin leads me to believe he knew then that Angie was male and not female. Therefore his reason for killing makes no sense. Most of us may disagree with angie/justins life style and feelings but he was a human being and a family member who was deeply loved. I hope the zapata's will be able to deal with their loss. This was a senseless death.

In his statement to the police interviewer he stated that he hit her then went through her belongings and after realising that she was still alive because she got up or starting to get up making noises, hit her again. He proceeded to hit her ...hello, That is first degree murder.

The guy had been on gay and bi chat rooms, common sense tells you what he had on his mind. Other than that, he had every opportunity to get up and walk away. He's guilty of first degree and I hope he is charged with the harshest punishment allowed under law.
I agree with Javier, I pray for a time when a person can be who they are without fear for their life.

Carol,

You "find it hard to feel bad" that an innocent person was murdered? LGBT or no, none of the ways we and/or society choose to identify ourselves (race, color, creed, sexuality) should be allowed to strip us of our shared humanity. Regardless of your beliefs about Angie's gender orientation, you can't seriously mean that she somehow deserved to be murdered, or that her murder isn't worth shedding a tear over. And if you do, then shame on you.

Carol had a great point.....I might add, there have been numerouse people that have presented themselves as a doctor, complete with bogus diploma's and degree's. They have portrayed themselves for years as Dr. XXX. When finally caught and tried in a court of law, neither the prosecutor or the defense refer to them as Doctor. I have no issue with the victom being referred to as "him". I DO however have a problem with anyone who murders a person in cold blood. And as far as I can see, regardless of whether or not the defendent was "informed" of the sexual gender of the victim, murder is murder...be it premeditated or not. He should be put away for a very long time, if not for life.

As I read through most of the comments posted below, I am somewhat surprised at the focus of many people on Angie Zapata's gender, and her choice to live her life as woman rather than a man. Everyday, we as people are given choices. We can choose our career, our car, our mate and pretty much everything in between. However, we cannot choose our biology. But, gender is a social construct. Yes, the biology of our bodies determines the "sex characteristics" that make us male and female, but gender is determined not by our DNA, but by our social presentation to our society. I cannot understand how a person's decision to dress as a woman (a gender role that is opposite of her biology) would ever be an appropriate reason for someone to be killed. If Angie Zapata did not disclose her biological gender (and I highly doubt that), then Andrade had every reason to be angry and feel betrayed. But being angry and feeling betrayed is never an excuse to take the life of another person.

does it matter that she was a transgender? she was killed, is it really going to make that much of a difference what gender she was???

I personally hang out on mocospace the pro pic of the victim really does look like a female or there is just a bunch of manly lookin women on that site..... no matter what killin her was wrong I don't care what anyone says he should have just walked away

i think that they should do the same to the guy that did it .putting him in prison wont help.us tax payers are tired of paying for them to live.we work hard for our money and tired of taking care of the prisoners.

i think he is guilty .it is wrong for what he did .my condolances to angies family. put the guy in a jail sell with charles manson.

First I have to say I do not agree with Angie's life style, but I would never judge her upon it either, or for that matter anyone else.. I think Angie was a person with feelings and dreams that where shattered by a lunatic! No matter what our feelings are on the subject of being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans gender, we need to remember that these people ARE people too just like you or me. So if we looked at it as if Angie was a women with NO male parts what would his conviction more or less be? I can say without a shadow of doubt Life w/o parole. So my opinion is he should get murder 1 life without parole. HE MURDERED A PERSON who cares what her sexual orientation was!

I know laws have been the same for years but does it make sense that if someone murders a person that they spend the rest of their life in prison?? Does it make the killer a better person?? I believe it wastes alot of tax payers hard earned money and i just don`t think they deserve to live. It was stated a few years back that average yearly cost to keep someone up to the age of 50yrs. old was about $35,000.00 and after that it doubles. I just think if you murder someone, you should get the death penalty. Does this make any sense or does anyone agree???

the guy is guilty. he needs to go to the chair . if i was on the juior i would give him death

It seems many people on here are perfectly okay with Angie being called "Justin" and "he" in court. The only purpose of this I can see is to anger the victim's family and try to show the "deception" on the part if the victim. Has no one thought about the fact that she was only 18. To change her gender legally (and her name), she needed to be 18. True, she was still legally a male, but perhaps that was because she was not allowed to live long enough to get it changed!
Regardless of the gender (genetically, emotionally, legally) of the victim, this is no excuse for what happened to her. No one deserves the death she was given simply because of who she was. I don't understand how anyone can read about this crime and not want to cry.

Regardless if he knew that she was a male before or while they got together, that gives him no right to end this young person's life at such an early age. Angie had her whole life ahead of her, she was only 18! Now because of him being embarrassed by the fact that he was being sexually active with a "male," this girl's family will have to miss out on so many years they would've had with Angie. And who cares if in everybody's opinon that wanting to the opposite sex is morally wrong, that is not the issue here nor should it be the main focus of people's opinon. The fact of the matter is this guy MURDERED a human being!!! That is what is MORALLY WRONG!!!! My heart goes out to the family of Angie.

The defendant used the victim's debit card. The name shown would have clearly revealed the victim's biological state. Therefore the defendant knew. Plain and simple, it's a hate crime. He seemed to know, but probably started to develop emotions rather than sexual attraction and became frustrated and conflicted with himself and his own beliefs. Then you have the rage and the hate crime. I don't know why other people haven't noticed this fact. There is no doubt that he knew.

Hate crime. Killing someone is against the law. I hope he gets life.
On a side note, I would like to mention Beth Karas, who is without a doubt THE BEST court reporter in the world. Beth, I've been with you for a long time (since the Scott Peterson case) and you are great. You have a wonderful POKER FACE and walk that professional line really good – - you're sorta like the opposite of Nancy Grace! You do a great job Beth!!!! Kudo's to you and your hard work!

As a juror deliberating the case, I would like to know if it was stated what type of clothing the victim wore to court on the day the accused accompanied him/her. If the victim wore mens clothing and the accused saw him/her in mens clothing that day that would tell me he knew him/her was male when the court called him Justin. But if the victim was dressed as a female and the court called him/her Justin that would not convince me since so many females have male names such as Dannie, Jimmie, Dakota, etc...

it doesn't matter what gender this person was..I believe homosexuality is wrong and against our living God..but I also realize that some people are born with both genitals...the ones that choose to be something they're not, well, that's between them and God..Either way Angie/Justin didn't deserve to die that way. regardless of whether he knew what she was, if he is guilty of the murder, then lock him away..he isnt insane..he knew what he was doing...if this was my child that had been murdered, I would mourn..we may not always agree with the choices our kids make, but we love them and God loves them as well..If this had been my child that committed the murder, I wouldn't understand why or how, but I would love my child..and so would God..I hope he finds forgiveness in God..

Murder is murder. Andrade left after the first assult and came back after a period of time to find her alive and then finished committing the murder. That makes it premeditated murder. As for the he or she? read the law in Colorado and it's definition and it's how one precieves themselves. If it's ok to murder because of being decieved or lied to the streets would be full of dead bodies. I realize some base their decision on biblical beliefs however not everyone believes in the Bible and if you say they are wrong you are passing judgement, "judge not". It would be easy to walk into a crowd of people and find "something wrong" with every person there. No one is perfect.

I am Transsexual and have followed this case watching it everyday online. Once again I hear alot of ignorance about TG's and why we are and what we are. If more people took the time to research the things we do not understand there might be less assuming. How would everyone be thinking if this was a genetic female murdered? Male Female Gay or Trans does not devalue any life.

I certainly hope the jury will realise that if a man is possibly looking for a bi-sexual female on a networking site then the man in question would not register HIMSELF on the site as bi-sexual. Allen knew what he was doing and probably realised he would have to explain Angie to his people when the relationship or contact from Angie continued after their time together. At that point he realised he had to get rid of her. I do not believe for a second that he had no idea Angie was born a male. Allen is guilty of 1st degree murder and that is that.

Zapata did not tell the truth about his real gender. If his birth certificate states male, then it makes him a man. He should have included that info in his profile on the web so there is no confusion about the situation. Just like the killer left out the tiny piece of info about being a convicted felon 6 freakin times. Deception with both. This case proves that you really don’t know what you are getting involved with when choosing to date over the internet. The victim got a 6 time convicted felon and the criminal got a transgender when he was seeking female companionship.

Dating on the internet is like crossing the street without looking....dangerous

And expecting a 6 time convicted felon to think rationale is like making lemonade with oranges. I have exprience in the behavioral sciences, mental health & probation & parole. The killer's first response to use violence is not a surprise.

I'm sure his profile on the web doesn't state hey I am a violent, available, 6 time convicted felon. Both men were playing a deceptive role in this. Punishment should definitely be given but the jury will comb through the facts that are being debated on this site.

YES!!!! He was found guilty of first degree murder...just as he should have been. Smart jury. They didn't take long to get to the right verdict. GUILTY!! Rest in Peace, Angie.

Andrade is a violent predator.

To keep us all safe, hopefully he will be locked up until he's physically incapable of committing another violent act.

I am a straight woman who is very open to peoples beliefs and how they live their lives. It offends me on a personal level that so many people leaving comments on this blog are blaming Angie for not telling Andrade she was physically a male. The fact that you are blaming a victim for her death because she chose to not tell – which we don't know for sure if she told him or not since she's not here to express her side of the story and we're relying on a MURDERER to say she didn't – is appalling and inhumane. How as a society have we come to feel it's okay to blame victims of any crime regardless of how they choose to live their lives. I hope that anyone that feels Angie should have been killed or shouldn't matter because she was transgender has a serious wake up call and can stop the bigotry they have in their hearts.

Me and my family were out to dinner and my daughters 11 and 13 came running back to the table saying a man was in the LADIES room. There was a man dressed up like a women and trying to explain to their father "i was born physicaly man but everthing else is female". Im not going to go into the out come but it wasn't pretty. There are consequences for you actions. How someone chooses to live their life is there decision but once it affects someone eleses life in a negative manner anything can happen.

Bravo Colorado court and jury! You got it right murder is murder and this was clearly murder. It matters not male, female, gay, transgendered....justice was served.

My hat is off to this jury. They have been through a difficult trial and have reached the only verdict possible. They can go home proud of themselves. I hope they can clear their minds of all the horror they have had to face.

Hello, im here to speak about the transgender case.I'm not going againist the verdict it was fair because he talk to much, if u do the crime u should do the time,but what about the decease is it right for him/her to keep it from the person they getting invole with like i said im for the verdict i just think when you have cases like this do u put all the blame on the suspect.I believe if you wanna b that transgender person why hide what u do,if your family and friends know dont u think the person who is seeing the transgender person should know to,when u live that life thats up to u, i think the transgender person should keep it real, why because betrail is evil either way u like at it ,it ends in a bad way cause aint no good gonna come out of betrail.I think they should expose themselves on first contact and if the person wants to continue so be it.So they should let it be known.like i said im with the verdict but ms. zapata should have told the truth on first contact not when i go with u 2 court.He is most definitely wrong but she was wrong 2.All im saying is keep it real then u want have 1out of 12 murders in transgender cases, it takes 2 to tangle.Thank you.

Dusty is right in what hes saying, justin deceive the defenedant

"she" is not a girl, "he's" a man. god made him a man, not fo justin to take it in his own hands and change it, thats sick. not justifying murder but i'd snap too if i found at. plu i get kinky in the bed too, but with females, just becuase he let "him" use a vibrator dont mean nothing. what justin done is just as moraly wrong as what allen done. they both took a life that god gave to them. justins parents should be looked at for allowing their 15 year old make a choice like this. we live in a sick and perverst world and we as parents have to guide and direct our kids in the right way, in this day and time they are gonna have weird thoughts and ideas and lusts but he need to be more stern and helping instead of just "well thats what he wanted", as a parent my first thought would be "someone will huet may son if he does this to himself" pray people pra

Angie...that is what you wanted to be, that was your right, that is what made you HAPPY. Just like we all make our choices to be what we want and feel to be which makes us happy. RIP !

She was a he!! I don’t know who knew what and when. God does! They’ll both have to answer to him.
God doesn’t make mistakes

I think there is a good reason behind this murder but the defendant should not resolve to murder but possibly stop all connection to this young "woman". I can see his side of the story but it kind of falls back to the victim not telling the defendant they are trans gender.

I think NO one deserves to die the way Justin "Angie" Zapata did she is a good person and loved by many ppl. I have a lesbian sister and im bi myself and it hurts to know that ppl like Allen would actually take a life cause he ( Allen) cant except the fact someone is different.......... and he need Justin " Angie" Zapata was a transgender because he went to court and heard the judge say Justin Zapata so Allen planned on killing "Angie" from the start

A murder is a murder. If Allen felt duped or cheated by Justin/Angie, he could have taken the legal approach – sue her. Instead he took the illegal approach – murder. Allen committed a crime. The crime was intentional and premeditated, not accidental. Allen admitted to it. The lawyers are trying to reduce the sentence through what they do best – mudslinging the victim. That is all this case is about. It is irrelevant how Justin/Angie looked or what her "true" gender is, as this is for trained and qualified medical professionals to determine, not for you, I, the judges or society to present uneducated opinions about. Justin/Angie was a human, who was killed by Allen. Justin/Angie was murdered by Allen in a premeditated manner. That is all there is to it. The murder also qualifies as a hate crime, as Allen indicated his hatred towards homosexual people as the motive for the murder,. In other words, he has motive to commit similar crimes against other human beings who belong to the category of homosexuals. This should increase the severity of his sentence as he is a threat to the survival of other human beings in society.