Trial begins for man accused of killing transgender teen

(AP) A prosecutor says the man accused in the 2017 killing of a transgender teen whose body was set on fire in southwest Missouri told law enforcement officers that he tried to make the death “quick and painless.” The Springfield News-Leader reports that in opening statements neither side disputed at a bench trial that began Monday that 21-year-old Andrew Vrba killed 17-year-old Ally Steinfeld. Steinfeld’s burned body was found near a home just north of Cabool on Sept. 20, 2017. The prosecution contends the killing was premeditated, while the defense countered that it was not premeditated. Vrba is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse in the killing. Three other people have already pleaded guilty for their roles in Steinfeld’s death and are in prison.