The masseur accused of strangling the 400-pound owner of a Midtown gay club pleaded not guilty Wednesday at his arraignment in Manhattan court.
A sullen-looking Daquan King, 23, wearing beige scrubs and handcuffs, made the plea after he was arraigned on one count of second-degree murder before Justice Robert Stolz in Manhattan Supreme Court.
King allegedly confessed last month to choking Savyon Zabar, 54, during a Jan. 3 rubdown at his West 81st Street after an argument, Assistant District Attorney Michael McIntosh told the judge.
Zabar frequently invited King over for kinky sex, according to McIntosh and police.
This time, Zabar’s roommates heard moaning through the bedroom, followed by the sound of moving furniture, then silence. King allegedly fled the apartment.
The roommates checked on Zabar 15 minutes later and found him unconscious. They called paramedics, who were unable to revive him.
Zabar formerly owned the Latin gay nightclub Escuelita on West 39th Street.