Remembering Our Dead

Joel Robles

Joel was stabbed by Estanislao Martinez after he discovered that Joel was trans.

Just over a year after the murder Martinez (who attempted to use a "gay panic" defence) was sentenced to four years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

In Fresno, Estanislao [Martinez], who pleaded guilty last month to voluntary manslaughter in the August 2004 killing of [Joel] Robles, a transgender woman, was sentenced last week to four years in prison. Gay activists were angered by the relatively short sentence.

Prosecutors say they agreed to the sentence because they could not have done better at trial with the evidence they had.

"One thing that it is not is a reflection of our belief that the death of this individual is properly addressed by a four-year prison sentence," Fresno County Assistant District Attorney Robert Ellis said.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Transgender-killings-an-investigative-quagmire-2568944.php

https://www.foxnews.com/story/man-gets-four-years-in-prison-for-transgender-slaying

https://www.ebar.com/news///236821

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/08/17/16922151.php?show_comments=1

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-murder-of-robles/143740430/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-murder-of-joel-robles/143740477/

Report added: 10 Dec 2018. Last updated: 20 Mar 2024

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