For the first time in the U.S., a person will be sentenced on federal hate crimes charges for killing a transgender person. Joshua Vallum is scheduled to appear before a federal judge Monday in Gulfport, Miss., after pleading guilty in December to hate crimes charges in the 2015 death of 17-year-old Mercedes Williamson. U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. could sentence Vallum to as long as life in prison without parole. The roommate also testified that Vallum once told her and Williamson his gang would kill both Vallum and Williamson if Williamson's transgender status was discovered. Vallum lured Williamson into a car in Alabama and drove her 80 kilometres to his family home near Lucedale, Miss., prosecutors have said.

Source: CBC News May 15, 2017 08:26 UTC