Suspect in Transgender Teen’s Slaying Gets Bail

One of three men charged with the murder of Newark transgender teenager Gwen Araujo has been granted $1-million bail.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Harry Sheppard said Friday that Jason Cazares, also of Newark, had no prior criminal history and did not appear to be a flight risk. The judge set a new trial date for May 9.

Michael Magidson, Jose Merel and Cazares, all 24, had been on trial in Araujo’s death. Magidson and Merel had had sexual encounters with Araujo, and prosecutors said the three men killed Araujo after discovering she was biologically male. When born, Araujo was given the name Edward, but the mother legally had it changed to Gwen after the teen’s death.

The case, which began in March, ended in a mistrial June 22 after jurors said they could not agree on whether to convict the men of first-degree murder.