Man kills friend after discovering she was born a man

Published: 2013 August 24 10:02:29 (6524 Views)

A bigoted man brutally beat a transgender woman to death in Harlem just moments after realising his friend was actually born a man, the victim's family and officials said Friday.

It was the latest in a series of troubling bias attacks in the city, which is on pace to double the number of crimes against the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual community in 2013 compared with last year.

In the most recent assault, Paris Wilson, 20, repeatedly punched Islan Nettles, 21, in the face after he and a group of friends spewed slurs at the victim, cops said.

Nettles had two Facebook profiles — one identifying himself as man and using his birth name, Vaughn Nettles, and another as a woman.

Wilson was friends with Nettles' "female profile," the victim's family said.

Delores Nettles said her son was walking with two transgender friends on W. 147th St. near Frederick Douglass Blvd. early on Aug. 17 when the conflict began in front of a police station-house.

"As Islan turned around and started arguing, (Wilson) beat him and he knocked my baby on the floor," she said. "And he kept beating and beating and beating my baby."

Cops said Wilson — about to enter his senior year at Buffalo State University — continued even after Nettles fell backward and struck his head on the pavement.

One of Nettles' friends ran inside and alerted cops.

Police arrested Wilson on a misdemeanour assault charge after Nettles' friend identified him.

Nettles, who was brain-dead, was removed from life-support Thursday around the same time Wilson was being freed on just $2,000 bail.

The death was ruled a homicide Friday and charges against Wilson could be upgraded.

The case is being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney's hate-crimes unit.

At his Aug. 17 arraignment, Wilson's public defence attorney said the suspect maintained his innocence.

The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury sometime before Wilson's next court appearance on Oct. 4.

At Thursday's court hearing, prosecutor Nicholas Viorst said another witness has come forward to detail Wilson's assault.

Meanwhile, Nettles' mom is left to plan a funeral.

"I just wish I had the opportunity to say goodbye to him. I'm never going to get that," she said.

"I accepted him no matter what because I loved him at the end of the day ... My son was a beautiful woman."

- NYDaily