By ARTESIA DAVIS,Guardian Senior Reporter,artesia@nasguard.com

A jury yesterday acquitted a man who admitted killing a gay, HIV-positive man whom he claimed had tried to rape him.

Frederick Green-Neely, 25, told the jurors that Dale Williams, who was the brother of former FNM MP Gregory Williams, grabbed his genitals inside his apartment in Bain Town on February 9, 2004. Green-Neely said he stabbed Williams after he grabbed his clothing as he tried to leave.

Green-Neely broke down in tears when the jury foreman announced that he had been unanimously acquitted of Williams' murder. His wife was also moved to tears and she thanked the jurors as they left the court.

Defense lawyer Dorsey McPhee told jurors that his client was "defending his manhood".

In his address to the jury, McPhee said, "This man deserves to go home to be with his family. The death, we are saying, was justified. Show the nation you don't impose yourself on somebody, because one day you just might meet the wrong person."

Jurors rejected prosecutor Terrance Archer's assertion that Green-Neely had used excessive force in rebuffing the alleged come-on.

Green-Neely told jurors that he was "cool" with Williams, whom he knew was gay and HIV-positive, and had gone to his store in Bain Town earlier that day to purchase a Valentine's Day basket for his girlfriend, who had given birth to his baby four days earlier. [The autopsy report confirmed Williams' HIV-positive status. ] He said the store was busy and Williams asked him to return later that evening to tell him what items he wanted in the gift basket.

He returned around 11 p.m. and both men smoked a cigarette. Williams invited him inside his studio apartment because it was chilly outside, the jury heard.

Green-Neely said he reluctantly accepted the invitation. He said he sat on the couch and Williams sat on the bed. He said Williams told him that he had always had a crush on him and grabbed his genitals. Green-Williams claimed that he pushed Williams away.

He said that he stabbed Williams three times during a struggle.

Senior Justice Anita Allen advised Green-Neely not to "squander" the new lease on life that the jury had given him.