Witnesses say NY hate crime suspect used anti-gay slur before transgendered victim was killed

Witnesses: NY murder suspect used anti-gay slur

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Two prosecution witnesses who were at a New York house party when a transgendered woman was murdered testified the man accused of the killing had directed an anti-gay slur at the victim.

Neither of the witnesses at the trial of Dwight DeLee said they saw him fire the shot that killed 22-year-old Lateisha (lah-TEE’-shuh) Green in November.

The pair testified Wednesday that DeLee called Green a “faggot.”

DeLee is being tried on a hate crime murder charge. Prosecutors say he killed Green because of anti-gay bias.

If convicted of a hate crime, DeLee would face additional prison time.

On Tuesday, two prosecution witnesses who told police they saw DeLee shoot Green recanted their statements. Green’s brother identified DeLee as the gunman during testimony Monday.