Thursday, August 24, 2006, 3:20pm

The witness was identified as a former team mate of the victim. He was interviewed, location to be specified, by members of the Yoknapawtawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was recorded on a portable audio tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

SM= Det. Sam Murphy
TA= Det. Ted Armstrong

DN: Dwight Nelson

SM: Good afternoon.

DN: Hi, how can I help.

TA: Your name has come up a few times in the course of investigating the homicide of James Washington, we'd just like to go over a few things?

DN: Sure, no problem.

SM: Okay , would you state your name and address please?

DN: My name is Dwight Nelson, and I live at 40 Carol Joy Road, Medford, New Jersey.

TA: Do you live alone Mr Nelson?

DN: No I live with my wife Jennifer and son JJ.

SM: How old is your son?

DN: Er he's 8 months old Detective.

TA: It's a good age. So what are you doing in New Jersey Mr Nelson?

DN: I play football for the New York Jets.

SM: Really? That's great! Must be a real thrill for you.

DN: I feel very fortunate yes.

TA: Okay Mr Nelson, we need to go over some of the events from four years ago, is that okay?

DN: Well I can't promise to be much help I'm afraid, four years is a long time ago, I sometimes have difficulty remembering last week.

SM: We appreciate that Mr Nelson, but if you do your best to remember it will really help us?

DN: Yeah of course I will.

TA: Do you remember Jamie Washington?

DN: Well I do, but not very well. He was the kid who got injured right? He was a decent player till then.

TA: You played on the same team as Mr Washington?

DN: Yes, well until he stopped taking his football seriously I did.

SM: How would you describe your relationship with him Mr Nelson?

DN: Well if I had to I'd say we were some time friends but mostly just team mates. I don't remember anything about his life if that's what you are asking.

TA: That's fine. So you wouldn't say you socialised with Mr Washington in any way.

DN: No I don't think I did.

SM: Is there any reason why some people may have told us different? That you and Mr Washington were in fact good friends at college?

DN: Er... I don't know ... I mean maybe that's the impression they got from how I was, I really couldn't say, I like to think I'm a friendly guy.... maybe I just came across as friends with him to others but I didn't ever feel like he was my best buddy or anything...you know?

SM: Did you and Mr Washington ever attend parties together?

DN: No I think I'd remember that. Don't get me wrong I'm sure Jamie and me were at the same parties sometimes. Like we were in the same house together, but I don't think we ever like hung together.

TA: When did you first meet Mr Washington?

DN: Sorry I don't know, probably football practise.

SM: What was that like? College football I mean? Was it hard work?

DN: With old Rocky Tunney it was yeah sure! Don't get me wrong he's a great coach but he makes some of the pro coaches I've known look positively relaxed.

TA: Rocky Tunney? That was Coach Tunney's nickname?

DN: Yeah, now that I do remember...remember how he got it too.

SM: How?

DN: Well Tunney had a habit of kicking off you know? Like every so often someone would er, disappoint him and he would lose it. One time in front of the whole squad he started in on this kid Adrian Demarco. He was shouting and hollering at this kid big time, swearing, freaked a few people out you know? Later we were talking about it and I can't remember who it was, started doing an impression of Tunney screaming "Adrian... Adrian" and he turned it into Sly Stallone doing Rocky Balboa in the Rocky movies... you know the scene right?

TA: I'm aware of it yes. So Coach Tunney was sometimes referred to as Rocky after that?

DN: Yeah, well it probably would have died a death, but then we found out Tunney used to box and that he'd had the nickname Rocky for a long time even before the Adrian thing. Don't recall too many people using it to his face though.

SM: What was the relationship like between Coach Tunney and Mr Washington?

DN: Not good, not good at all. You know he hit him right?

TA: Yes we're aware of his liking for discipline. Did Coach Tunney always have a problem with Mr Washington?

DN: I don't remember there being too much friction until Jamie got injured. He'd done pretty well and Tunney treated him okay. It was just coming back from injury when Tunney realised Jamie didn't take football as seriously that we saw the change. After that Tunney would single him out for abuse.

TA: Did you ever discuss Coach Tunney with James Washington?

DN: I think Jamie might have told me he was scared of the coach once yeah. It was probably after he hit him.

TA: What did you think of Mr Washington after his injury?

DN: I'm not sure I have an opinion. I remember some of the team thought he was a pu ... I mean that he was umm... a flake.

SM: Did you?

DN: Yeah I guess I did a little. I wouldn't have let an injury stop me that's for sure.

TA: Do you recall Mr Washington having any close friends on the team, people we could speak to who would be able to help us?

DN: No, I don't remember anyone in particular, I got the feeling Jamie used to keep himself to himself.

SM: Do you remember Greg Urbanski?

DN: Yeah I remember Greg; he's a good man.

SM: Greg told us you like to party, what did he mean by that?

DN: Well... yeah ...I guess I did like to live it up a little. Hey I wasn't out of control or anything, but I was young and enjoying myself you know what I'm saying?

TA: I think we get the picture. Did you have a girlfriend at college Mr Nelson?

DN: Yeah I had a girlfriend, had lots of 'em. I'm settled now with my family but I enjoyed myself before that, is that wrong?

SM: That's not really for us to comment on Mr Nelson, did you know Yvonne Bremer?

DN: No I don't recall her name. Am I supposed to have er... "known" her?

TA: We're just following lines of questioning. How about Matt Fortunato, does that name bring back any memories?

DN: Yeah I remember Matt, the rich kid, now that boy knew how to throw a party.

TA: You were friends with Mr Fortunato then?

DN: Well, yeah I guess. I mean Matt was an outgoing guy, he knew most people on campus, what's the word I'm thinking of to describe him? He was... um.. gregarious is it?.

SM: Were Mr Washington and Mr Fortunato friends to your knowledge?

DN: I don't know. I don't ever remember seeing them together.

SM: Did you play in the Red Blue game back in 2002?

DN: Yeah I did.

TA: How was it?

DN: It was okay. It was a big occasion on campus so I think we all enjoyed it.

TA: Do you remember Mr Washington playing?

DN: Did he play that day?

SM: He scored the winning touchdown Mr Nelson, remember?

DN: Can't say as I do, but good luck to him for that...

TA: Do you remember anything from the game itself?

DN: No not really, I remember it rained and rained and a few of us laughed when Nancy Simpson fell over doing her cheerleader routine at half time.

SM: Why would you remember that?

DN: You don't want to know... trust me.

TA: Maybe we do.

DN: Okay if you're sure, but don't say I didn't warn you right? I balled Nancy the night before the game and I'm afraid I made a crude joke about her knees still being weak.

SM: Okay let's move on. When was the last time you saw James Washington?

DN: I'm sorry I couldn't tell you a date. I don't remember at all.

TA: Would it have been when you went to see him at the Phoenix apartments after the Red Blue game?

DN: What?

SM: We have a witness who says you visited James Washington at his apartment. Is that true?

DN: No I.. hang on. Where was his apartment?

SM: The Phoenix apartments. On Van Buren?

DN: Well I probably visited there yes but I don't think I saw Jamie, I probably visited someone else.

TA: A witness came forward and remembers you arguing with Mr Washington. Did you or did you not visit James Washington after the Red Blue game in 2002 Mr Nelson?

DN: I don't remember doing that. There's no reason I would argue with Jamie...I must have been there doing something else.

SM: Like what?

DN: I don't remember, it's four years ago. There's no reason I would have gone to see Jamie, I wasn't angry or anything.

SM: Why would someone tell us you were shouting at Mr Washington?

DN: I don't know. Jealousy?

SM: Did you see James Washington after you didn't see him at the Phoenix Apartments?

DN: You're trying to catch me out aren't you.

TA: We're just trying to get to the truth Mr Nelson, so did you see him at all towards the end of April in 2002?

DN: No I don't think so.

TA: Did you go to the Double Decker Festival?

DN: Yes I did, I remember that I went with a friend.

SM: Who?

DN: Justin Canady.

TA: What did you do?

DN: Watched the bands, just hung out.

TA: Do you remember seeing any particular band?

DN: No, not really, but we watched most of them while chatting with others.

SM: Who did you chat to?

DN: Lots of people.

TA: Any of them have a name?

DN: I don't remember all the names. We talked to Matt Fortunato.

TA: When did you hear Mr Washington was missing?

DN: I don't know. He left didn't he? That was what I heard. He left and wrote in to someone and that's all I know. You have questioned Tunney about this haven't you?

SM: We're following up everything yes. So would you know why James Washington moved out of the Phoenix apartment and into a motel after the Red Blue game?

DN: Is that what he did? No I didn't know that and I don't know why either.

TA: Nothing to do with you coming to threaten him at the Phoenix apartment then?

DN: Look I told you I didn't do that.

TA: What was Washington scared of then?

DN: How would I know? Tunney?

SM: Did you hear anything from friends or anyone on campus about what might have happened to Mr Washington?

DN: No I didn't. I mean I vaguely remember hearing he had left, then that he was missing or whatever, but no one ever said he must be dead or something. Everything I can remember I've told you.

TA: Okay Mr Nelson. We'll leave it there.

SM: For the moment anyway.

DN: You mean you might need to question me again?

TA: It's possible Mr Nelson. Bye

Interview ends 3:48 p.m.