Prosecutors and defense attorneys at Wednesday’s pre-trial hearing in Miami, Florida, unanimously agreed to request a continuance, and Judge Zachary James of Florida’s 11th Circuit Court granted their request, setting a new pre-trial hearing date for November 17 and a new tentative trial date of December 5.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, a tentative trial date of September 12 had been established for Masvidal.
The defense and prosecution teams for Masvidal showed up to the court on Wednesday without him.
Masvidal’s legal team requested further time because they claim that an investigating officer failed to answer questions about the alleged attack on Colby Covington.
If the defense has pertinent questions, Judge James will issue an order requiring the officer to answer them.
Furthermore, prior to trial, the defense team may issue subpoenas demanding electronic communication records from at least one officer present at the time of the claimed incident.
After an alleged physical fight with Covington outside a restaurant in March, Masvidal entered a signed not guilty plea to single counts of aggravated violence resulting in grave bodily harm and criminal mischief. Masvidal was taken into custody by Miami Beach police on March 23 after being detained for questioning the previous day. After paying a $5,000 bond, he was freed.
According to the police report, Covington broke a tooth and sprained his wrist. He said Masvidal approached him from his left and punched him twice in the face as they stood in front of Papi Steak.
On April 28th, Masvidal was issued a restraining order mandating that he maintain a 25-foot distance from Covington and a 500-foot distance from Covington’s residence. He also can’t make any kind of contact with Covington. Covington was granted a stay-away order due to his “fear” of Masvidal following the alleged assault. Covington claimed he knocked himself unconscious and suffered a chipped tooth and concussion. Photographs of his face and wristwatch were then made public.
In his lone public statement, Masvidal described the reported confrontation between himself and Covington as “a mutual combatance [sic] with another athlete.”
Masvidal faces possible further penalties for the criminal mischief accusation in addition to up to 15 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for the second-degree felony aggravated violence.
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