Murderer of trans woman Dee Whigham sentenced to 40 years
A man who brutally murdered a transgender woman in Mississippi last year has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Former Navy sailor Dwanya Hickerson was handed the sentence after he pleaded guilty to killing Dee Whigham.
Hickerson stabbed Whigham 119 times in a hotel room where they met up.
It’s believed that the two had been involved sexually before Whigham was murdered.
Hickerson claimed that he had “lost control” after finding out about her transgender identity.
The majority of wounds were on her face, and her throat was also slashed three times.
He had initially pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge, which has since been dropped.
As well as now pleading guilty to murder, Hickerson has pleaded guilty to robbery for stealing Whigham’s purse and phone.
He will have to serve a minimum 35 of the 40 years for the murder charge, and eight of the 15 years for the robbery charge.
Following his guilty plea, Hickerson made a public statement apologising to the family of Whigham.
“I’d like to apologise to the victim’s family If I could take it back I would,” he said.
The victim’s mother, Vickie Blackney Whigham, said that the sentencing does not serve justice.
She said: “I think the plea is a slap in the face.
“He gets a chance to see his family and I don’t have that chance with my child.”
2016 was the deadliest year yet for transgender people.
