Brooklyn man pleads guilty to fatally punching transgender woman in 2013

A Brooklyn man has admitted to beating a transgender woman to death in 2013, prosecutors said Monday.

James Dixon, 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the Aug. 17, 2013, death of 21-year-old Islan Nettles on the Upper West Side, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said Monday.

According to court documents and records cited by the DA’s office, Dixon punched Nettles, causing her to fall to the ground and hit the back of her head on pavement.

Dixon then struck her multiple times in the head before fleeing the scene, according to investigators. Nettles suffered serious brain damage from the attack and was declared brain-dead three days later. She was was taken off life support on Aug. 22, 2013, and died shortly after.

“With this conviction, James Dixon has finally been brought to justice for this brutal and lethal assault,” District Attorney Vance said in a statement. “Members of the transgender community are far too often the targets of violent crime. I hope that this conviction provides some comfort to Ms. Nettles’ family and friends, and affirms my office’s commitment to protecting members of the LGBTQ community.”

Dixon is expected to be sentenced on April 19.