On Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, jurors at Manhattan’s Supreme Court found two prostitutes, Edwin Faulkner, 30, and Juan Carlos Martinez-Herrera, 26, guilty of first-degree murder. They both face 25 years to life in prison.
The pair allege their john, John Laubach, 57, liked to pay for sex with Hispanic males. On March 2, 2012, the florist died of asphyxiation in his New York apartment in Chelsea. He was bound, hands and feet tied with a lamp cord, and his face covered with the duct tape that caused him to choke to death.
Faulkner and Martinez-Herrera initially told authorities Laubach died during a “raw sex” session. Laubach’s friend, Hiram Lopez, said the duo were banned because they stole from the 57-year-old floral designer.
They have been held at Rikers for nearly four years. Faulkner was on parole at the time Laubach died. Martinez-Herrera is an undocumented immigrant.
Those concerned with the New York prostitutes’ fate have started a petition that can be found at, www.
Supporters plan to pack the court this Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 at their sentencing and there will be ongoing organizing from Free Edwin Faulkner and Juan Carlos.
They are also seeking donation to assist with their commissary.
Free Edwin and Juan Carlos! is a collective of queer and trans people of color with experiences of homelessness and involvement in the sex trades organizing around the wrongful convictions of the pair.
