Minneapolis Transwoman On Trial for Murder

[Carolyn Marie]

Interesting case.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/cities/archive/2012/04/minneapolis-murder-trial-rallies-transgender-community.shtml

Carolyn Marie

[Guest ~DeeDee~]

It sucks she had to be in that situation, but it sounds like there is more to the story also. . . love me some case law.

[KieranD]

http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/05/report_cece_mcdonald_takes_plea_deal_in_minneapolis_murder_case.html

I'm so angry and frustrated right now. The US "justice" system is horrible.

[Guest Risu]

This is very sad... I can't believe she would plead guilty. She had every right to defend herself in that kind of situation.

Sure they say that race, gender, and sexual orientation don't affect decision making but if you tell someone "A woman stabbed a man who tried to attack her and he died", that would illicit a completely different response than "A black transgender woman stabbed a white man with a swastika tattoo on his chest when he attacked her". It does affect decision making unless they know absolutely as little as possible.

Mistake may have been made on CeCe's part. I just feel awful for her that she plead guilty... anyone know the laws in her state? Which prison (gender wise) will she be sent to and will she be allowed to continue her HRT? It's sad a man is dead because of what happened (Even though he sounds like a total waste of space) but her "punishment" could be a fate worse than death...

[KieranD]

This is very sad... I can't believe she would plead guilty. She had every right to defend herself in that kind of situation.

Sure they say that race, gender, and sexual orientation don't affect decision making but if you tell someone "A woman stabbed a man who tried to attack her and he died", that would illicit a completely different response than "A black transgender woman stabbed a white man with a swastika tattoo on his chest when he attacked her". It does affect decision making unless they know absolutely as little as possible.

Mistake may have been made on CeCe's part. I just feel awful for her that she plead guilty... anyone know the laws in her state? Which prison (gender wise) will she be sent to and will she be allowed to continue her HRT? It's sad a man is dead because of what happened (Even though he sounds like a total waste of space) but her "punishment" could be a fate worse than death...

She hasn't officially plead, but she's expected to agree to this deal. There's a number of problems with this trial. The swastika tattoo, clothing the guy was wearing, and a lot of stuff that would've helped CeCe's defense TREMENDOUSLY was not allowed, while insignificant things that seem like they would be pointless for the case and were used against her were allowed.

EX: Her writing a bad check once was allowed to show character while the deceased's previous convictions for domestic violence were not allowed to be discussed.

I don't know if they were going to allow the transgender specialist (to educate the jury on the climate of violence against trans women of color). Last I heard that was pending, but if the judge decided the transgender specialist was not allowed then CeCe would have almost no chance.

[Ravin]

The plea deal actually isn't a bad one...except when you consider that it stipulates all that prison time and the realities of what going to prison means for a trans woman. Second degree negiligent manslaughter is a much less serious crime than second degree murder, which is what would probably be brought against her if it went to trial. 41 months would look pretty good given all the biases that have been thrown into place and the chance of a sentence more along the lines of 25 to life.

Taking a chance on holding to self defense in an all-or-nothing bid for acquittal is risky, and she'll have had to weigh that hope against all the biases stacked against her, and have factored in how much she trusts her defense attorney.

If she's very, very lucky, a sympathetic judge could maybe commute some or all of the prison time, or count time served, etc., assuming state law gives the judge that leeway. Given how the rest of it's gone, I wouldn't count on it, though.

Pretty sad situation all around.

[Guest chngnwnd]

It really seems like she is being persecuted for daring to survive the attack.

Bobbi