EVERETT — A man accused of nearly decapitating a woman and then leaving her body in a sleeping bag plans to argue that he killed in self-defense.

In court papers filed Tuesday, James Naudon’s attorney alleges that there is evidence that Angela Beery “instigated a confrontation with Naudon by threatening him with a knife.”

Naudon is charged with second-degree murder for the May 1 slaying. Prosecutors allege that Naudon, 26, met up with Beery at an Everett bowling alley, bought her a drink and then took her back to his apartment.

That’s where investigators believe Beery was killed. They found blood throughout the apartment’s bathroom. They also located a knife with blood on it in the dishwasher, court papers said.

Beery’s body was discovered the next day a short distance off 100th Street SW near Paine Field in Everett. She had been wrapped in black plastic secured by duct tape and stuffed in a sleeping bag.

Beery, 39, was stabbed in throat, neck and head. Her body was nearly decapitated, and there was evidence that she’d been strangled, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Dave Hiltner wrote in court papers.

Naudon was arrested May 5 in California after police learned he’d fled to the San Francisco Bay area. In text messages to his friends, Naudon allegedly wrote that he’d done something terrible that would send him to prison for the rest of his life, Hiltner wrote.

He wrote that he was a monster and wanted to kill himself, court documents alleged.

Naudon told police that Beery demanded $100 from him once at his apartment, court papers said. He denied that he knew Beery was a prostitute.

Naudon has no prior criminal convictions.

His attorney, Jon Zulauf, of Seattle, asked a judge on Tuesday to order Beery’s mother, sister and boyfriend to speak with him about the slain woman to assist him in defending Naudon.

Beery wasn’t from Washington and an investigation into her background has been limited, Zulauf wrote.

Evidence of mental health problems or drug use could support the defense’s theory that Beery was “emotionally unstable when she pointed the knife” at Naudon, Zulauf wrote.

A judge agreed to order Beery’s relatives and boyfriend to speak with Zulauf if they continued to refuse interviews with him.

Naudon is scheduled to go to trial in October.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.