By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The personal assistant accused of killing celebrity realtor Linda Stein said she wanted to die during her interrogation and subsequent confession to police, according to a detective's court testimony on Tuesday.
Natavia Lowery allegedly told police an intruder dressed in black had gotten into the building and could have killed Stein, but later recanted and confessed to the murder, Det. Kevin Walla testified in court on Tuesday.
"No man came through the door," Lowery allegedly told police in November 2007. "I snatched the cane and hit her repeatedly with it."
Lowery, 28, has since claimed the confession was coerced by police after a emotionally trying interrogation.
"I want to die here," said said during the interview with police, before continuing with her confession at the insistence of investigators.
Lowery allegedly told police Stein blew marijuana smoke in her face and taunted her with degrading insults, prompting a fatal beating with a yoga stick that ended the realtor's life, Walla testified.
"She should have left me alone," Lowery allegedly told police.
Lowery's defense team attempted to prove to the jury that the confession as coerced by stressing Lowery's weak emotional state at the time of the interrogation.
"She was very upset, yes," Walla said under cross-examination. "She was distraught, but it made sense."
Lowery's three-lawyer defense team was back at it a day after their client tried to fire them and represent herself.
When Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Richard Carruthers denied her request, Lowery said she'd rather represent herself than continue with her attorneys
"The right to self representation is clearly an important right, but it is not an absolute right," Carruthers said.
"I want to fire my attorneys and represent myself," Lowery said.
The trial continued Tuesday with her previous defense team intact, as per the judge's orders.
