The 14-year-old’s voice started cracking halfway through the police interrogation, but he continued to deny that he had any part in the rape and death of a 3-year-old girl.

“She’s a little girl. Who would do anything to hurt her?” the 14-year-old told Hamilton County sheriff’s detective Michael Cox on April 22, a day after the victim died of sepsis as the result of a tear in her rectum.

The interrogation, played Wednesday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court, was part of a hearing on behalf of the teen to determine if he will be tried as an adult.

He is charged with first-degree murder by aggravated rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child. Judge Suzanne Bailey’s decision could mean the difference between his possible rehabilitation or life in prison if he is convicted of the crimes in Criminal Court.

“She’s an adorable little girl,” the teen reiterated on the tape, admitting later through his tears that he “smacked her” once when she started messing with his guitar.

“I don’t even know where (all the other injuries) came from,” he said adamantly.

Authorities have charged the teen because of the belief that he was the only one with her when her injuries occurred.

The medical examiner testified last week that the victim’s injuries happened no more than two days before she died at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital on April 21.

At the time of the girl’s death, the teen had been living with her and her younger brother, who were not blood relatives, along with the rest of his extended family at their home in Georgetown, Tenn. Often put in charge of several young children at once, he said during the interrogation that he loves “old” rock bands such as AC/DC and Metallica because new music “has no rhythm.”

The soft-spoken boy also said he has a hard time explaining things and then told Mr. Cox that he had forgotten to take his medicine that morning for the treatment of his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“I’m sorry if I’m kind of edgy,” the teen said.

The interrogation soon became serious, with Mr. Cox often placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder and asking repeatedly if he ever experimented sexually with the victim.

“No!” the boy said every time, visibly embarrassed and uncomfortable.

“You loved her, right?” Mr. Cox asked. “I know this is a burden on you. I can see it all over your face.”

The defense implored Judge Bailey to throw out the interrogation, calling it a “manipulation” of a child who had no idea about the seriousness of the situation. The defense also pointed out that the teen’s mother was allowed to come into the room only when it seemed that Mr. Cox wasn’t going to get the answer he wanted.

Although Judge Bailey allowed the interrogation to be played, she called the detective’s strategy “a game of roulette.”

“I always wonder why the parents aren’t brought in the room (if they’re in the building),” Judge Bailey said.

The hearings will continue in the coming weeks, and a mental evaluation of the teen also is expected.