bottlesmuck
12-19-2003, 04:45 PM
NEW YORK -- A judge rejected Mike Tyson's bid to have his assault case thrown out and ordered him to stand trial Jan. 20.
A separate trial will begin on the same date for the two men charged with menacing the former heavyweight champion before he was accused of attacking them.
Tyson did not attend Friday's hearing. Defense lawyers argued that the boxer acted in self-defense after two men challenged him to a fight at dawn June 21 outside a Brooklyn hotel.
Lawyers and prosecutors agree that one of the two men told Tyson, "You've got fists, we've got guns." The former heavyweight champion is accused of chasing down the unarmed men and punching them out.
Tyson has pleaded innocent to charges of misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.
A separate trial will begin on the same date for the two men charged with menacing the former heavyweight champion before he was accused of attacking them.
Tyson did not attend Friday's hearing. Defense lawyers argued that the boxer acted in self-defense after two men challenged him to a fight at dawn June 21 outside a Brooklyn hotel.
Lawyers and prosecutors agree that one of the two men told Tyson, "You've got fists, we've got guns." The former heavyweight champion is accused of chasing down the unarmed men and punching them out.
Tyson has pleaded innocent to charges of misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.