Judge Natalie Bokota denied a Gary man’s bid for bail last week who is accused of killing his child’s mother’s new boyfriend.

Prosecutors charged Ralph Stokes, 24, with murder in Jimmijion Bailey’s shooting death on Oct. 5. His body was found decapitated Oct. 11 on the 2300 block of Clay Street with his arms and knees bound with black tape.

His next court hearing is Sept. 24.

In a police interview, Stokes claimed he shot Bailey before the other man could kill him.

“I made a mistake, but it was out of self-defense,” he said on a videotaped recording.

Investigators were tipped off on Oct. 10 that Bailey was shot inside the girlfriend’s apartment. His body was moved to the bathroom for several hours. His car was taken to 9th and Roosevelt to “throw off the investigation.” The girlfriend

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