LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — UPDATE – Oct. 23 2014 — The murderer of trans woman January Marie Lapuz has been sentenced to 8 years in prison. Charles Jameson Mungo Neel was convicted of the murder earlier this month. From 24 Hours Vancouver:

Earlier this month, the B.C. Supreme Court sentenced Charles Jameson Mungo Neel to eight years’ imprisonment for manslaughter — effectively, he will be serving five years and three months due to credit for time already served.

The judge acknowledged mitigating factors in the case, including how Neel did not have a prior criminal record, he is a young man — 22 years old, feels remorseful and that the offence “is out of character” for him.

Justice Frits Verhoeven: “While the expressions of remorse … are not as thorough and convincing as one might wish to see, I suspect that those comments reflect a lack of ability on Mr. Neel’s part to fully express himself.”

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(Original article 12-31-12) The accused murderer of New Westminster trans woman January Marie Lapuz has a bail hearing Monday Jan. 7th according to the Canadian LGBT publication Xtra!

A news search resulted in no additional information about the accused, Charles Jameson “Jamie” Mungo Neel, since I wrote of his arrest earlier in December. However, in both the Xtra! article and on social media, there were concerns of the possible release of Neel during the hearing. However, as far as I can tell, these concerns were not based on recent developments, perhaps from the DA or the police, but rather, trans advocates’ stance of ‘categoric opposition to bail for accused murderers of trans people.’

That latter point was made by Leada Stray, one of the organizers of a rally to be held on Lapuz’s behalf two days before the hearing. Strays says they’re not asking people to pass judgement before Neel gets a fair trial, but rather, drive home the message that trans people are not safe in a country supposedly known for its pro-LGBT stance and leadership.

New Westminster Councillor Jaimie McEvoy is among the people planning to attend the rally: “I think it’s important when you have a group of people in society — who as a group are among the most disadvantaged in Greater Vancouver — I think it’s important for anybody to show their support.”

Sentencing: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/10/23/five-years-for-man-who-killed-trans-woman

Full details about the rally: https://www.facebook.com/events/286153181487577/

More on the arrest and murder of January Marie Lapuz: https://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/arrest-made-in-september-killing-of-british-columbia-trans-woman/

More rally information from Xtra!: http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/Rally_planned_for_New_West_trans_murder-12989.aspx

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Categories: Deaths, Murder, Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans

Tags: bc, Charles Jameson "Jamie" Mungo Neel, Charles Jameson Mungo Neel, Councillor Jaimie McEvoy, January Marie Lapuz, Leada Stray, New Westminster, vancouver