NORWICH — Despite saying he did not want to take the stand in his own defense in Chenango County Court Wednesday, alleged murderer Ganesh R. Ramsaran opted to testify Thursday.

Ramsaran provided the jurors some of his personal background, telling them he was born Amsterdam in the Netherlands and moved to the Bronx in New York at the age of 12.

The defendant recalled his high school years playing various sports, including football, lacrosse and wrestling. Based on his shorter stature, he said he had to play with no fear and show that he could perform with the larger or taller athletes.

This is when he said he acquired various nicknames: G-man, G, Captain G-man and #1 were some that the defendant recalled. His favorite, he said, was Psycho. “I was the smallest out there. I was always playing hard,” said Ramsaran. He said he owns jackets with the nickname embroidered on them, jackets he said Jennifer Ramsaran wore “all the time.”

Ramsaran was charged by the government with second degree murder for allegedly killing his wife, Jennifer Ramsaran.

He said the nickname just stuck, and when asked by his defense attorney Gilberto Garcia if he had ever been violent or charged with assault or a domestic violence charge, Ramsaran said no.