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Man guilty of killing transgender woman in hate crime trial over gender identity

It was the United States' first federal trial over an alleged hate crime based on gender identity. There have been hate crime prosecutions based on gender identity before, but none had reached trial.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man was found guilty Friday of killing a Black transgender woman in the nation's first federal trial over a hate crime based on gender identity.

After deliberating for roughly four hours, jurors convicted Daqua Lameek Ritter of a hate crime for the murder of Dime Doe in 2019. Ritter was also found guilty of using a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting and obstructing justice.

A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Ritter faces a maximum of life imprisonment without parole.

"This case stands as

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