NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) – A second degree murder charge has been laid in the killing of a transgendered woman from New Westminster in late September.
    
20-year-old Charles “Jamie” Neel made his first court appearance this afternoon at Supreme Court.
    
Police are not saying what the motive was.

“We’re not suggesting this is a hate crime. We’re not going to be going into what we believe this motive is and what the evidence is pointing to, simply because it is before the court,” explains Sgt. Jennifer Pound with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
    
26-year-old January Lupaz was found in her New West home at 3rd Ave. and 5th St. suffering from stab wounds. She later died in the hospital.