Andre Karlow faces a jury in King County Superior Court, accused of beating a transgender woman who suffered broken teeth and bruises in the attack.
SEATTLE — A Seattle man is standing trial on a hate crime charge after allegedly attacking a transgender woman in Seattle’s University District last March, with prosecutors arguing the unprovoked assault was fueled by hatred and preceded by targeted slurs.
Andre Karlow faces a jury in King County Superior Court, accused of beating Andie Holcepl, a transgender woman who suffered broken teeth and bruises in the attack. Opening statements were delivered Wednesday, and Holcepl took the stand to testify about the incident.
Prosecutors allege Karlow was part of a group of four men who hurled slurs at Holcepl before the assault turned violent.
“Targeted slurs were met with targeted violence,” Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Yessenia Manzo said during opening statements.
According to investigators, the group punched and kicked Holcepl during the initial attack. Holcepl testified that the group gave chase and launched a second wave of violence.
“He struck me a couple more times. Then I ran across the street,” Holcepl told the court.
Defense attorneys maintain Karlow’s innocence, with his lawyer stating during opening statements, “He did not commit hate crime.”
Karlow has been held in jail for months awaiting this trial. He previously faced similar charges for allegedly attacking a transgender Sound Transit worker in September 2024. In that case, a jury rejected the hate crime charge and convicted him of the lesser charge of fourth-degree assault.
The Sound Transit fare enforcement worker from the 2024 case is scheduled to testify as a witness in the current trial, which resumes Thursday.
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