James Dixon, who was indicted in the brutal beating death of transsexual Islan Nettles, says his manhood was threatened.
Dixon was charged with felony assault and manslaughter on March 3, 2015.
Dixon, 25, admits he “hollered” at Nettles, 21, who wore stereotypical feminine attire and presented himself as a female.
Dixon’s initial attraction to Nettles changed to anger when one of his friends yelled, “That’s a man!”
Dixon told investigators his anger was precipitated by a similar incident a few days earlier when he was tricked by another transsexual.
He said his friends “clowned” him after the previous incident.
“I just didn’t want to be fooled,” Dixon said, during the hour-long interrogation recording obtained by the NY Daily News.
In a “blind fury” Dixon brutally beat Nettles on the street in front of a police precinct, around 2:20 a.m. on August 17, 2013.
Nettles lingered in a coma for five days before being declared brain dead. He was taken off life support on Aug. 22, 2013 per the request of his mother, Delores Nettles.
Dixon and Nettles were casual Facebook friends prior to their fatal encounter. There was no indication on Nettles’ Facebook page that he was born a boy named Vaughn Nettles.
Dixon turned himself in to the police when he learned that another friend, Paris Wilson, 20, was a suspect in the beating.
Wilson’s assault charge was later dismissed.
Jury selection is set to start on Monday in Manhattan. Dixon is expected to use the “gay panic” defense. He recently rejected a plea deal of 12 years behind bars.
Dixon faces 25 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
