Suspect convicted of lesser charge

Raven Navajo avoided the most serious charge against him on Tuesday but couldn't escape the barrage of insults hurled at him by friends of the cocktail waitress Navajo was convicted of killing.

"I hope you get (expletive) life, you piece of (expletive) scumbag!" Bruce Kapalczynski shouted inside the courtroom. He yelled at Navajo after the jury announced it found the 43-year-old guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Brenda Schmalfeldt.

A marshal ordered Kapalczynski out of the courtroom, but the distraught co-worker of Schmalfeldt continued to curse Navajo in the courthouse hallway.

"I want five minutes" with him, he said.

It was a dramatic end to Navajo's weeklong murder trial, which attracted not only Schmalfeldt's friends and family but also at times a herd of reporters and members of the local transgender community.

Navajo, a biological man who identifies as a woman, remained silent as the verdict was read.

Navajo was facing first-degree murder charges, but the jury had the option of finding him guilty of second-degree murder. A conviction on a second-degree murder charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life.

Schmalfeldt's brother, Thomas Dean, told reporters he felt the jury was too soft on the person who took his sister's life.

"I was disgusted. To show leniency for somebody who has so little value for human life," he said.

Authorities said Navajo killed Schmalfeldt on Jan. 13, 2007, at Navajo's residence after the pair had been drinking together. During an October hearing, Navajo admitted to killing Schmalfeldt because he thought she stole $500 from him. Navajo said he hit Schmalfeldt, a New York New York cocktail waitress, in the head to keep her from leaving the residence.

Navajo later disposed of Schmalfeldt's body in a trash bin, authorities said. The bin was emptied at the Apex landfill, about 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Authorities spent two days sifting through acres of trash looking for Schmalfeldt's body but never recovered it.

Navajo asked District Judge Lee Gates in October to be allowed to plead guilty to first-degree murder and begged for the worst sentence. Gates said there seemed to be a lack of premeditation in the case.

Navajo's demeanor was notably subdued during the trial. At times, Navajo turned away from media cameras in the courtroom and once covered his face with his hand. Navajo didn't testify during the trial.

Tuesday's verdict was seen as a victory by the defense, who argued that Navajo was not guilty of premeditated murder.

"There wasn't any evidence of premeditation," Navajo's attorney Andrea Luem said. "This is justice."

Schmalfeldt's family members obviously didn't share that view.

They described Schmalfeldt as a generous person who was preparing care packages to send to troops overseas before her death.

One family friend, Barb Krute, said she still leaves a bouquet of pink roses, Schmalfeldt's favorite, at the entrance to the landfill.

Schmalfeldt's mother, Mildred Knowles, also said she was disappointed that Navajo did not receive a harsher conviction and warned that Navajo has a horrible temper.

"He should never be out on the street," she said.

Navajo's sentencing is set for April 9.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.