In a groundbreaking case, a federal jury in Columbia, South Carolina found Daqua Lameek Ritter guilty of killing transgender woman Dime Doe after deliberating for almost four hours, The State reported.
It is the first time a federal jury has convicted someone of murder with the motive being the victim's real or perceived gender identity. However, Ritter is not the first person to be charged under the gender-identity provision of the federal Matthew Shepard And James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
In August 2019, Doe, 24, was found in her car, shot three times in the head at close range with a .25-caliber handgun. Ritterwho had been in a tumultuous, secretive relationship with Doewas found guilty on all three counts of his indictment, which included possession of a firearm during a violent crime and lying to federal investigators.
Prosecutors alleged that Ritter, 27, killed Doe because he feared being perceived as gay for being in a relationship with a trans woman. Witnesses testified that Ritter was "furious" when his girlfriend went through his phone and accused him of being in a relationship with Doe.
Andrew Davis