45
Killing of Woman May Have Been Justifiable Because She Was Trans, Tennessee Court Rules (www.erininthemorning.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by to c/tennessee@quokk.au
7 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Paris Lee was shot six times and killed by Samuel Ward Jr.; this is an indisputable fact. Ward was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in May 2025. He claimed it was self-defense, but the jury didn’t buy it.

This week, however, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals reversed his conviction. A three-judge panel declared that the jury was under the impression Lee was cisgender; that in not disclosing the victim’s status as a trans woman, the trial judge “misled” the jury; and that Ward was entitled to a new trial where he could use this fact to bolster his claim of self-defense.

all 7 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [S] 24 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Gay panic defense is now the trans panic defense 😥

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 5 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    Well, always has been. But now it’s a legal precedent. So many people on Lemmy complain when I say now is the time to act… they say doomer. A trans person actually called me a doomer… today!

    I wonder how this will go… trans panic becomes a daily issue. Men drive around looking for something to panic them. The police do nothing (as usual especially with trans crimes).

    Then they will be at the polling booths waiting. No vote, no voice.

    I’m such a doooommmeeeeerrrrrr

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago*

    Another situation where something that should be banned at the national level has to be banned on a state-by-state basis, resulting in the usual suspect states predictably degrading the rights of anyone who's not a cisgender, white, Christian man.

    At least both the gay and trans panic defenses are covered by those bans:

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
    • [–] 10 points 2 weeks ago

    What the fuck is this scared little boy defense? Oh no, he might have gotten the wrong kind of cooties so he had MURDER SOMEONE?!?!

    I realize this isn’t new. Gay/trans panic is a tale as old as time. But fuck this bullshit.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •