Killer Of Transwoman Angie Zapata Found Guilty By Colorado Jury

Allen Andrade was today found guilty of the July 2008 murder of transwoman Angie Zapata, whom Andrade beat to death with a fire extinguisher after learning Zapata's birth gender. When arrested, he told police he had killed "it".

After two hours of deliberation, a Weld District Court jury found Allen Andrade guilty of the first-degree murder of Angie Zapata, guilty of a hate crime and guilty of car and identity theft. Andrade, 32, of Thornton was on trial for the beating death of Zapata, 18, last summer. The pair met through a social networking Web site, and planned a meeting days later. Andrade came to Greeley and stayed with Zapata for two days, ending with Zapata's death. Attorneys say Andrade beat Zapata to death with a fire extinguisher. Andrade confessed to beating her not only once, but a second time, after Zapata had woken up from the first beating, according to police affidavits.

Andrade's attorneys attempted a "trans panic" defense, but prosecutors proved that he know of Zapata's birth gender at least 36 hours before the murder.

RELATED: Pam's House Blend blogger Autumn Sandeen has been covering the trial in person. Check out her excellent work.