Anastasia Nicolazzi

And these are real issues for prosecutors and at trial. And I've encountered this defense more than once in the courtroom. You know, one case that quickly comes to mind, a defendant claimed that their own abuse as a child led them to panic when their victim supposedly made advances. And in that case, they were same sex. But I've also had cases.

And these are real issues for prosecutors and at trial. And I've encountered this defense more than once in the courtroom. You know, one case that quickly comes to mind, a defendant claimed that their own abuse as a child led them to panic when their victim supposedly made advances. And in that case, they were same sex. But I've also had cases.

defendants who say that when they realized that the partner that they found out that they were trans and actually born a different sex than what they believe them to be. And I'll close by saying in those cases that the jury convicted both. But it was definitely a defense that you had to be worried that it might impact the jury or sway someone on the jury.

defendants who say that when they realized that the partner that they found out that they were trans and actually born a different sex than what they believe them to be. And I'll close by saying in those cases that the jury convicted both. But it was definitely a defense that you had to be worried that it might impact the jury or sway someone on the jury.

So it needs to be dealt with, you know, head on from as early as jury selection if it's a defense that is viable, that is allowed to even come into court.

So it needs to be dealt with, you know, head on from as early as jury selection if it's a defense that is viable, that is allowed to even come into court.

And, you know, the National LGBTQIA Plus Bar Association, which is, of course, monitoring things around the country, says that this is a defense that they have seen work routinely because of bias against specifically trans people, because that's what we're talking about here. So these are fears that people that decide to be or are trans, that they are predatory.

And, you know, the National LGBTQIA Plus Bar Association, which is, of course, monitoring things around the country, says that this is a defense that they have seen work routinely because of bias against specifically trans people, because that's what we're talking about here. So these are fears that people that decide to be or are trans, that they are predatory.

And obviously we know that isn't true. But again, as we know, Scott, this really had a lot to do with actual change in Washington state.

And obviously we know that isn't true. But again, as we know, Scott, this really had a lot to do with actual change in Washington state.

Nevertheless, the defense was still preparing to prove that in his encounter with a 17-year-old Nikki, Bogdanov felt that his life was actually in danger.

Nevertheless, the defense was still preparing to prove that in his encounter with a 17-year-old Nikki, Bogdanov felt that his life was actually in danger.

In addition to public pressure, the prosecutors were in a tough spot with their case against Bogdanov. He had pled self-defense, which they did not expect, at least not initially. So Kristen and Colin faced a lot of unknowns right off the bat. And most mysterious of all, what would Bogdanov say on the stand?

In addition to public pressure, the prosecutors were in a tough spot with their case against Bogdanov. He had pled self-defense, which they did not expect, at least not initially. So Kristen and Colin faced a lot of unknowns right off the bat. And most mysterious of all, what would Bogdanov say on the stand?

But then Bogdanov's testimony veered from what he had originally told police. He had originally claimed that after Nikki told him she was a trans female, he had pushed her away in anger and asked her to leave his van.

But then Bogdanov's testimony veered from what he had originally told police. He had originally claimed that after Nikki told him she was a trans female, he had pushed her away in anger and asked her to leave his van.

You know, Scott, so much of what he is saying just makes absolutely no sense. I mean, just the phone cord alone, right? He has it. It's around her neck and that it had already been in this loop. So that when he happened to put it around her neck, that it tightened and she died. I mean, that just, it makes no sense. And it, of course, defies physics.

You know, Scott, so much of what he is saying just makes absolutely no sense. I mean, just the phone cord alone, right? He has it. It's around her neck and that it had already been in this loop. So that when he happened to put it around her neck, that it tightened and she died. I mean, that just, it makes no sense. And it, of course, defies physics.

And it was a fact that was supported by conclusions made by the medical examiner.

And it was a fact that was supported by conclusions made by the medical examiner.