FREMONT, Calif. — As city officials in Newark, Calif. rejected claims that they remained silent in a local transgender killing, an attorney filed a plea delay Oct. 31 for one of the defendants, according to the Oakland Tribune. Michael Magidson, 22, Jaron Nabors, 19, and Jose Merel, 22, are charged with murder with a hate crime enhancement in the killing of Eddie “Gwen” Araujo, who was slain Oct. 3. The killing came allegedly after the defendants learned she was a biological male. Nabors pleaded innocent last week, and Merel and Magidson were expected to enter pleas this week. After the killing, activists criticized the Newark City Council for inaction and silence, but council members said they wanted to avoid the national attention the slaying has drawn. Council members held a special meeting before local television cameras to denounce the killing, according to the Tri-Valley Herald. “Hate and intolerance have again collided to take another young person’s life,” said Council member Al Nagy. “I’ll never understand that.” Prosecutors are preparing for a defense that may raise a “transgender panic” motive for the killing.

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