The ‘trans’ prostitute convicted last year of killing his client at San Francisco’s Crissy Field was granted compassionate release today by a federal judge.
Leion Butler was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for shooting Hamza Walapupu on November 12 2023 and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
Lawyers for Butler said their client had been sexually assaulted by two inmates at a federal prison in Colorado and had been “sex trafficked” in San Francisco County Jail while awaiting trial. They also alleged he had recently been physically assaulted by three men at a federal prison in Oregon.
Government attorneys cast doubt on the claims and said the criteria for compassionate release had not been met.
Today U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who presided over last year’s trial, said Butler ought to be freed:
“I have been concerned since the very beginning that it’s the obligation of the Bureau of Prisons to keep inmates safe, and to keep Ms Butler safe, and that’s not happening,” said the judge, referring to Butler as a woman.
“In many ways it’s a problem of the government’s own making, in my view, but the defendant is not being kept safe.”
“I believe that the requirements that the law provides on compassionate relief have been met here and I will issue an indicative ruling that the defense motion is granted.”
Because the case is on appeal, and jurisdiction has now passed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the judge’s order will be sent to that court with a request that it issue a ‘limited remand’ allowing it to take effect. There was little doubt among attorneys today that this would be permitted.
Butler, an anatomical male, will live in an Oakland residence run by the nonprofit MISSSEY alongside vulnerable women.
The inability to keep imprisoned a dangerous man who committed a shot-to-the-head slaying of an unarmed victim, and then confessed repeatedly, is a humiliating reverse for U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian - San Francisco’s seldom seen top federal law official.
Case background:
sfpublicsafety.news/crissy-f…