Trial in killing of Iowa teenager to focus on gender motive
THE HAWK EYE VIA AP
Jorge Sanders-Galvez exited the courtroom following a change of venue hearing for his murder trial at the Des Moines County Courthouse in Burlington, Iowa, on Thursday.
BURLINGTON, Iowa >> One of two cousins charged in the death of a gender-nonconforming Iowa teenager is set to go on trial.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has highlighted the case against 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez by taking the unusual step of assigning a federal prosecutor to assist state and local authorities in the case.
Sanders-Galvez and his cousin Jaron Purham are charged with first-degree murder in the March 2016 slaying of 16-year-old Burlington, Iowa, high school student Kedarie Johnson. Sanders-Galvez’s is set to start Tuesday.
Relatives say Johnson was gender fluid, identifying as both male and female. A prosecutor says Sanders-Galvez tried to have sex with Johnson and became enraged after learning that Johnson was gender nonconforming.
Purham is expected to be tried later.
