He killed her because of her gender identity. He'll be sentenced today.

[SummerMadness]

He killed her because of her gender identity. He'll be sentenced today.

Josh Vallum, a statewide officer of the Latin Kings street gang, will make history Monday when he is sentenced in the first-ever federal hate crime prosecution against the killer of a transgender person.

Vallum is facing a federal sentence of up to life in prison for the May 30, 2015, beating and stabbing death of Mercedes Williamson, 17. Vallum pleaded guilty in December to killing the Alabama native, whom he had once dated, because of her gender identity.

 

[Victory-N-Christ]

I think transgendered people should be honest about it especially to people they're dating.It's the best way to give their boyfriend or girlfriend an option to either stay in the relationship or not. Iam not trying to excuse the actions of the guilty guy but this probably could have been avoided if the victim would have been honest from the beginning.

 

[Hammster]

What would be the sentencing guidelines if it wasn't a so-called hate crime? Community service?

 

[Hammster]

And if the article is correct, he killed a male, not female as the article keeps stating.

 

[SummerMadness]

And if the article is correct, he killed a male, not female as the article keeps stating.

Hmm, someone demanding somebody be labeled a certain way because it makes them feel uncomfortable. He killed her because of her gender identity.

 

[Hammster]

Hmm, someone demanding somebody be labeled a certain way because it makes them feel uncomfortable. He killed her because of her gender identity.

I'm not demanding anything. Just read the part about the pics found on the phone. That should clear it up.

 

[Hammster]

But anyway, what would the sentencing have been if it wasn't a so-called hate crime?

 

[grasping the after wind]

Hmm, someone demanding somebody be labeled a certain way because it makes them feel uncomfortable. He killed her because of her gender identity.

Someone demanding somebody else deny reality because reality makes them feel uncomfortable.

 

[SummerMadness]

But anyway, what would the sentencing have been if it wasn't a so-called hate crime?

It's not a so-called hate crime, again word play because you don't like something. I wonder where all these people are to complain about "so-called" terrorism laws, "Oh but I like those laws, so I don't complain..."

Hate crime laws affect factors in sentencing like number of years, possibility parole, etc., it's not that difficult to understand how the inclusion of hate crimes can affect sentencing.

 

[FireDragon76]

According to the authorities, he knew that Williams was transgender, and evidence was presented to that effect at his trial.

 

[Hammster]

It's not a so-called hate crime, again word play because you don't like something. I wonder where all these people are to complain about "so-called" terrorism laws, "Oh but I like those laws, so I don't complain..."

Hate crime laws affect factors in sentencing like number of years, possibility parole, etc., it's not that difficult to understand how the inclusion of hate crimes can affect sentencing.

Based on threads you've started, you are for tougher sentencing for hate crimes, but not for other violent crimes or drug dealing.

What's the difference?

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

Just a note. This criminal knew the victim was transgender and had a sexual relationship with her that he hid. He murdered her because one of his friends found out his ex was transgender.

He didn't murder her because she was transgender per se. He murdered her because of what his involvement with her might suggest about him. He was a cowardly man who murdered a child (she was 17) who was trying to figure her way in this world. He should get the death penalty.

PS. Journalists refer to people in accordance with their gender identity. To do otherwise would be disrespectful.

 

[Rion]

According to the authorities, he knew that Williams was transgender, and evidence was presented to that effect at his trial.

Which is why I don't understand why they would label it a hate crime. He didn't kill them because he hated/feared them, he killed the person for fear that his other gang members kill him for it.

 

[Hammster]

Which is why I don't understand why they would label it a hate crime. He didn't kill them because he hated/feared them, he killed the person for fear that his other gang members kill him for it.

It doesn't matter. All that matters is that someone from a specific demographic was murdered.

 

[grasping the after wind]

According to the authorities, he knew that Williams was transgender, and evidence was presented to that effect at his trial.

When was it that this statewide officer of a street gang knew this about Williams? Did the statewide office holder kill Williams because Williams identified as a woman or was it for some other reason totally unrelated to that? I think that if he knew all along about Williams transgender identification but only committed murder at a point after the relationship degraded it would be hard to prove that the reason Williams was murdered was because of Williams transgender identification. If the gang office holder knew while dating Williams, it would seem that perhaps thinking this is a hate crime may possibly be incorrect. If, the office holder could be proven to have killed Williams because he found out that Williams had been dishonest is that a hate crime or a crime of passion related to a feeling of betrayal rather than hatred of a specific group? I would think that in order to be considered a hate crime it must be proven that the reason Williams was murdered by this a statewide gang office holder was that Williams identified as a woman and not that Williams was dishonest in the relationship. If he( the gang office holder) could be proven to have no animosity toward people that identify as women, I cannot see how the crime could be considered a hate crime. This despite the fact that I would wager that the office holder may well have hated Williams when he comitted the murder. . Funnily enough one may kill another because when one hates that person but it may not be considered a hate crime while one may kill another without any personal hatred toward that individual and it can be considered a hate crime. Someone mentioned playing with words as if that was not already the case prior to this thread. Deciding exactly what might, at any particular time, motivate a statewide gang officer to commit a violent murderous act may be a bit difficult to pin down.

 

[FireDragon76]

Which is why I don't understand why they would label it a hate crime. He didn't kill them because he hated/feared them, he killed the person for fear that his other gang members kill him for it.

All that has to be proved for a hate crime is that the person was murdered because of their identity. It seems obvious to me that Mercedes Williams was killed because she was transgender.

 

[Hammster]

All that has to be proved for a hate crime is that the person was murdered because of their identity. It seems obvious to me that Mercedes Williams was killed because she was transgender.

Not if you read the article.

 

[Rion]

All that has to be proved for a hate crime is that the person was murdered because of their identity. It seems obvious to me that Mercedes Williams was killed because she was transgender.

Williams was killed because the gang member feared the gang would kill him for being in a relationship with them.

 

[Ygrene Imref]

And if the article is correct, he killed a male, not female as the article keeps stating.

Eh, you know. If (s)he identifies as a female, that is their identity - as it goes in R̶o̶m̶e̶/B̶a̶b̶y̶l̶o̶n̶/Western World.

But, on a more serious note, there is a very deep cultural implication in this incident that is actually more important

 

[Ygrene Imref]

When was it that this statewide officer of a street gang knew this about Williams? Did the statewide office holder kill Williams because Williams identified as a woman or was it for some other reason totally unrelated to that? I think that if he knew all along about Williams transgender identification but only committed murder at a point after the relationship degraded it would be hard to prove that the reason Williams was murdered was because of Williams transgender identification. If the gang office holder knew while dating Williams, it would seem that perhaps thinking this is a hate crime may possibly be incorrect. If, the office holder could be proven to have killed Williams because he found out that Williams had been dishonest is that a hate crime or a crime of passion related to a feeling of betrayal rather than hatred of a specific group? I would think that in order to be considered a hate crime it must be proven that the reason Williams was murdered by this a statewide gang office holder was that Williams identified as a woman and not that Williams was dishonest in the relationship. If he( the gang office holder) could be proven to have no animosity toward people that identify as women, I cannot see how the crime could be considered a hate crime. This despite the fact that I would wager that the office holder may well have hated Williams when he comitted the murder. . Funnily enough one may kill another because when one hates that person but it may not be considered a hate crime while one may kill another without any personal hatred toward that individual and it can be considered a hate crime. Someone mentioned playing with words as if that was not already the case prior to this thread. Deciding exactly what might, at any particular time, motivate a statewide gang officer to commit a violent murderous act may be a bit difficult to pin down.

Almost how like Trump said he was going to fire Comey all along, but firing him during a time when an investigation into his entire administration is ramping up... is "interesting."

On a serious note, yes there is a serious implication other than just the murder because of transgender identity. That definitely is part of it.


But... the Latin Kings... only rivalled by MS-13 I would say, tend to kill for fun more than for purpose. So, this may actually be "complicated." That, plus it is an not so secret secret that even trans persons are used as mules, and for sex (traffic and leisure.)