A Manhattan court has sentenced Jaia Cruz, a 24-year-old transgender woman, to 15 years in prison for fatally stabbing a postal worker, Ray Hodges, in Harlem earlier this year. Cruz pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in April after striking a plea deal.
The fatal stabbing occurred on January 2 at Joe's Deli Grocery, where Hodges confronted Cruz about cutting him in line. Cruz allegedly knifed Hodges, later stating that he "deserved it." The incident sparked outrage, with Hodges' family members expressing their dissatisfaction with the plea deal and sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, Hodges' mother expressed her frustration, calling Cruz's actions "pure evil" and stating that the sentence was too lenient. The family members chanted "It's a boy!" and wore "Justice for Ray" t-shirts, highlighting their anger and disappointment.
Judge Gregory Carro explained that proving intent to kill is always difficult, which likely influenced the plea deal and sentence. Cruz's lawyer claimed that Hodges made a slur about Cruz's gender identity during the altercation, and requested that Cruz be placed in a female jail facility.
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