The man accused in the kidnapping and dismemberment killing of an 8-year-old Orthodox boy in Brooklyn, N.Y., told detectives his victim put up a struggle and that afterward he was hearing voices telling him “to take his own life for what he did,” according to court papers made public last week.
Police say Levi Aron made the remarks last month around the time he directed them to a trash bin where he dumped a red suitcase containing the body parts of Leiby Kletzky. As the interrogation wore on, Aron told them, “I’m famous,” the papers say.
The 35-year-old defendant also was asked if he knew anything about past sex crimes against children. The papers say he recounted how a man groped him on a subway train when he was a teenager.
“But I never did that to a child because I don’t swing that way,” he said.
The alleged statements, including a written confession, were turned over to the defense Aug. 4 at an arraignment where Aron pleaded not guilty. His lawyers also learned that a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation had found him competent to stand trial.
The lawyers — who claim Aron has complained of hearing voices — said they still plan to conduct their own exams to determine whether to pursue an insanity defense. — ap