Assault trial for Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes will face trial on two assault charges after a New York judge withdrew a plea offer today that would have let the rapper remain free.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy withdrew the offer that included probation, community service and a series of lectures to troubled youth. She cited Rhymes’ recent arrest for driving with a suspended licence as the reason.

“The court’s offer is off the table,” Kennedy told Rhymes, 34.

His attorneys declined to comment as they left court.

Rhymes’ attorney, Robert Kalina, has said previously that his client had been prepared to accept the deal.

After the judge withdrew her plea offer, the rapper rejected a follow-up offer by the prosecution of one year in jail for each of two counts of assault – to run concurrently – and a $500 (€375) for the suspended licence charge, and will go to trial instead.

Kennedy tentatively set the trial to begin on May 8.

In February, Rhymes had rejected a prosecutor’s offer of six months in jail on the two assault charges, but said he would consider the judge’s deal that would have allowed him to plead guilty to misdemeanour assault and remain free.

Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, is accused in a complaint of beating Edward Hatchett, 39, his former driver, “with a closed fist about the head and neck” and kicking him in the ribs and torso during a dispute over back pay. The attack on December 26 outside Rhymes’ lower Manhattan office left Hatchett with cuts, bruises and substantial pain, according to the complaint.

In the other case, Rhymes is charged with assaulting a fan, allegedly for spitting on the rapper’s car, after an August 12 performance at the AmsterJam Music Festival on Randalls Island.

In February, the rap star was jailed briefly after police stopped his car for driving through a red light and discovered he was driving with a suspended licence.

Police also have tried to question Rhymes as a potential witness in the February 2006 shooting death of his bodyguard, Israel Ramirez. Police say Rhymes so far has refused to cooperate with their investigation.

Rhymes, known for wild outfits and an antics-based performance style, has hits that include 'Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See', 'Dangerous' and 'Touch It'. He also has appeared in films, including 'Shaft' and 'Finding Forrester'.