The Brooklyn man accused of killing a transgender woman nearly two years ago was finally charged for the crime yesterday, authorities say.
According to the New York Times, 24-year-old James Dixon was arrested in connection with the August 2013 murder of Islan Nettles. Nettles, 21, was beaten to death after a group of as many as seven men attacked her in Harlem:
Just after midnight on Aug. 17, 2013, Ms. Nettles was walking on Frederick Douglass Boulevard with two transgender friends when they encountered a group of at least seven young men, Mr. Viorst said. The groups walked south together and a shouting match erupted between them.
Mr. Viorst said Mr. Dixon abruptly struck Ms. Nettles in the face with a closed fist, knocking her to the ground and slamming her head on the pavement. He then leaned over her and pounded her head with his fist, ramming her head repeatedly into the pavement, the prosecutor said.
Ms. Nettles, 21, an assistant at a fashion company who aspired to become a clothing designer, was battered beyond recognition. She lingered in a coma for less than a week before being taken off life support.
The Times notes that the 18-month delay in Dixon's arrest was the result of complications with the investigation. Twenty-year-old Paris Wilson, who was part of the group of assailants and reportedly wore clothing similar to Dixon's that night, was arrested shortly after the attack:
Three days later, Mr. Dixon visited Mr. Wilson at his home and promised to take responsibility for the assault, Mr. Viorst said. Then Mr. Wilson’s mother escorted Mr. Dixon to a police station, where he made statements acknowledging it was he who had assaulted Ms. Nettles, Mr. Viorst said.
Those statements, though incriminating, did not immediately clear up the matter, prosecutors said. Witnesses had identified Mr. Wilson as the attacker and no surveillance cameras captured the crime, law enforcement officials said.
The charges against Wilson were eventually dropped in November 2013. The investigation continued, and evidence was not presented to a grand jury until last week.
Dixon faces charges for second-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault.
[via New York Times]
