Jones on trial over bar brawl

The lawyer for Hollywood actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones indicated he will claim self defence in a fight at a downtown bar.

Jury selection started today in the trial of Jones, who is accused of punching another man in the head.

He is charged with simple assault, a misdemeanour that has a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a €836 fine.

Prosecutors accuse Jones, 44, of hitting Juan Trevino-Barrera three times in the head on December 4 at Wiley’s Tavern. Jones was in the state to hunt pheasants.

Trevino-Barrera said at the time he was playing pool with his roommates when Jones asked to join, then got offended when one of them asked if he was “that guy from X-Men.”

Trevino-Barrera said he was punched by the actor, who is mostly known for his tough guy roles, and countered with one or two of his own.

“He got offended by that, and he started pushing my other friends around,” he said.

Witnesses said the altercation happened shortly after Jones scuffled with one of Trevino-Barrera’s roommates, who hit Jones in the face with a beer glass and cut him.

Jones was treated at a hospital, then arrested and posted bond the next morning.

Trevino-Barrera has since pleaded guilty to unrelated drug charges.

Jones’ movie credits include 'Snatch', 'Gone in Sixty Seconds', 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'X-Men: The Last Stand' as the character Juggernaut, and 'Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties'.

The trial is expected to last a day.