Norristown Transgendered Woman Sentenced For Murder Of Boyfriend
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - A transgendered woman will spend at least fourteen years behind bars for murdering her lover in a fit of rage inside their bedroom in a Norristown house last year.
Shaking and sobbing uncontrollably, 41-year-old Asia Santana, also known as Tyrone Crawley, recounted for the court how she loved 29-year-old Eric Nevith but their five-year relationship was punctuated with arguments because he gave her HIV.
Today, she was sentenced to 14 to 28 years in prison for stabbing him six times during an argument in August of last year.
"Clearly the defendant has had a hard life, but there really is no excuse for taking Eric Nevith's life," prosecutor Cara McMenamin told KYW Newsradio after the sentencing, "and the unspeakable tragedy visited upon the family is just heart-wrenching." She thinks the sentence handed down was fair.
Defense attorney Greg Nester says it was clear that his client bears as much pain and sadness as anyone else in this case. Santana told the judge she never meant to hurt Nevith and is deeply sorry for her actions.
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060
