Allen Ray Andrade (Photo/Greeley Police)
(The Center's press release) GREELEY - The prosecution continued to lay out its case against Allen Ray Andrade Monday, calling several forensic and DNA experts and two of Andrade's former girlfriends to testify.
DNA experts from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation testified that they found Andrade's DNA on various items found at Angie Zapata's apartment.
The prosecution also played jailhouse phone calls from Andrade to the ex-girlfriends in which Andrade often dehumanized his victim by calling her "it" and tried to justify his actions by blaming the victim.
In a call to former girlfriend Angie Tyree, Andrade said: "It's not like I just went up to a school teacher and shot her in the head, you know what I mean? It's not like I went up to a law-abiding straight citizen."
In a jailhouse call between Andrade and another former girlfriend, Felicia Mendoza, she told him: "I know that person f***ing deserved it."
But Mendoza asked Andrade why he drove around in "its" (the victim's) car for a couple of weeks after the crime, because that made Andrade seem like he was showing "no remorse."
Andrade told Mendoza that he "didn't have sex with that mother f***er." He then asked Mendoza if she had seen "it" with make-up.
The prosecution is expected to finish its case by midday Tuesday, with the defense set to begin calling its witnesses in the afternoon.
"The defendant's use of the word 'it' to refer to the victim exemplified what we already know about hate crimes. He saw Angie Zapata as expendable, and he believed that she deserved to die," said Crystal Middlestadt, director of training and education at the Colorado Anti-Violence Program.
Hate crimes send a message that it's OK to commit acts of violence and murder against a marginalized group or community, Middlestadt said.
"This case is unique in that these crimes are underreported, and in even fewer cases are they charged as a hate crime," she said. "The fact that this is being charged and prosecuted shows that the District Attorney is sending a message that hate crimes in this community will be taken seriously."
Comments
one day the unjust and unequal will have their turn to do what it is they pleased to the ones who hurt them.. Karma is what thrive in the air always. although many people hate us trans people we still got love for you because we know that you only hate us because you dont understand us but I ask that you take the time and get to know who we are and where we come from because we have always been apart of every culture and will always be! god bless you all R.I.P Angie Zapata!
@ Tasmia Vasquez:
I appreciate your ability to transcend the prejudice and intolerance you face in your life and remain open and willing to share your story.
While I am deeply saddened by Angie Zapata's tragic murder, I am also perplexed by Allen Andrade. What kind of values have we upheld as a society that would breed this kind of unthinkable cruelty?
I agree with you, Tasmia. People fear that which they don't understand. Once someone becomes familiar with a GLBT individual on a personal level, it becomes much more difficult to continue to demonize them. We must seek mutual respect and understanding to encourage any kind of progress towards tolerance.
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