NEW YORK, 26 July 2003 — Prosecutors on Thursday beefed up their criminal case against former world boxing champion Mike Tyson over a Brooklyn hotel brawl last month.
Tyson, the self-described “baddest man on the planet” who has served time in prison for rape, was flanked by two lawyers in his first Brooklyn criminal courtroom appearance on the June 21 melee.
The boxer, dressed in a gray blazer with white pants and white shoes, appeared for 10 minutes and one of his lawyers entered a plea of not guilty.
Police initially issued Tyson, 37, with a “desk appearance ticket” and released him on his own recognizance.
In court on Thursday, however, prosecutors charged Tyson with assault, disorderly conduct and harassment that could add up to jail time if he is convicted. The judge scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 30.
“(His) initial action may very well have been justified,” prosecutor John O’Mara told Judge John Carter in a court crowded with reporters and other onlookers.
Outside the court, O’Mara acknowledged Tyson was provoked but said: “We are confident the evidence is sufficient to support the charges.”
Two men were charged last month with menacing and harassing Tyson outside the Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn. One of them said in a newspaper interview that he had approached Tyson for his autograph and accused the boxer of punching him for no reason.
But investigators said a hotel security videotape showed the men started the fight and threatened Tyson, who punched one of them. Tyson then walked away, took off his jacket and returned to punch both of them.
In court on Thursday, Tyson’s lawyer Mel Sachs argued the pugilist’s actions were recognized by the law.
“Mike Tyson was provoked verbally and physically attacked,” Sachs said. “Anything he did is commensurate with the law of justification.”
Tyson has been the subject of controversy in and out of the ring since he first won the heavyweight title in 1986. In the ring, Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear, out of it he was convicted and jailed for rape and has been involved in several bust-ups.
Onlookers cheered “Iron Mike, Iron Mike” after he emerged from court.
