The 2012 Murder of Dalesair Okaulos concerns the November 2012 murder of 20 year old Dalesair Okaulos, a transgender woman by a group of four men on November 15, 2012 near Gsaal Raiyas, Narsora.

Background

Dalesair Okaulos was a 20 year old transgender woman from Gsaal Raiyas, Verrairrr Province, Narsora. Originally born Deraas Okaulos and male, she underwent gender reassignment surgery in late 2011, the majority of Okaulos's relatives and peers were supportive of her decision. She occasionaly reported harassment from peers and strangers to her relatives and police. Although as there was no federal anti-discrimination law yet in place, police could do little.

Murder

On November 15, 2012 Okaulos was attending an event on her college campus UNV (University of Narsora- Verrairrr), when she was approached by a group of four men; 21-year old Seliraic Behesse, 20-year old Meinir Currice, 20-year old Aarón Cardenás and 18-year old Wellik Isunaic who began according to witnesses as simply flirting with her. They all eventually agreed to go to a bar in Gsaal Raiyas - about 5 miles away, where after drinking several drinks Okaulos agreed to go with Behesse to his home. After attempting to have sex Behesse discovered Okaulos was biologically male and became enraged, proceeding to viciously beat her. As the other men came to investigate the commotion, Behesse told them He was an "i'aphphas!" (derogatory towards homosexuals). Okaulos attempted to flee out the front of the house but was dragged back in by the men. Behesse stated during his interrogation that they proceeded to torture, sodomize and beat Okaulos over a six hour period. They then drove her to a park and hung her from a tree until she suffocated, then left the scene. Okaulos's body was discovered by a jogger the following morning and police were called to the scene.

Aftermath

A cororner later stated that the injuries Okaulos received were "The worst he'd ever seen on a murder victim." Okaulos was found to be missing both eyes, her tongue, had numerous burn marks, lacerations to her genitalia, chemical burns and other horrific injuries. The extent of the injuries were not made public. the day after the body was discovered, Behesse posted a photo of the hanging body to social media with the caption "Tuhr uhr zi'as zu sa sa i'aphphas's!" ("This is what we do to *******). Two days later on the 18th police arrived to arrest the four men after witnesses said they would have been the last to see Okaulos alive. When officers entered Behesse's home he attempted to flee through a back door and over an iron fence but was intercepted and tackled to the ground by another officer. Behesse was observed berating the officer for arresting him. All four admitted to taking part in the murder.

Trial

The trial began on January 8, 2013 and was broadcast nationally as the case became the forefront of news headlines and lasted five days. The defense argued with a "gay panic" defense, after realizing Okaulos's orientation. Nevertheless, the 12 member jury (6 men and 6 women) found all four guilty of 1st Degree murder, "Grievous Bodily Harm", 1st Degree Assault, Assault with a deadly weapon and "Committing a Hate Crime". All four were sentenced to death by Lethal Injection to be carried out non-consecutively. Presiding judge Donato Rafael, is quoted as saying before handing the sentence; "Que cuatro no es hombres, es animales por lo tanto ninguno de ustedes jamás podrá a pie en la sociedad otra vez". ("You four are not men you are animals, therefore none of you will ever be allowed to step foot in society again". The last of the men to be executed was Seliraic Behesse, on July 17, 2015.

Legacy

The crime is considered to be the "Worst crime in Narsoran history", and garnered a permanent support for the LGBT movement. Most notably the creation of the country's first federal Anti-Discrimination law that was passed in February 2015. The murder was the subject of a documentary "El crimen que sacudió una nación" (Eng: "The Crime That Shook A Nation") by filmmaker Jordana Pío, which was released in mid-2015.