Bassel Saad, 36, of Dearborn
A defense attorney for 36-year-old Bassel Saad, the man who is accused of sucker-punching referee John Bieniewicz in an adult soccer match at Mies Park in Livonia last Sunday, says his client is shattered by the incident and extends deepest sympathy to the family, the Arab American News reports. Bieniewicz died after being rushed to a hospital.
"Although maintaining his innocence, Bassel Saad expressed his deep sympathy for the loss of John Bieniewicz and he extends his deep condolences to his family,” attorney Brian Berry of Dearborn tells the paper.
Saad was charged Monday with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. After the death of Bieniewicz, the charge could be modified.
“At the arraignment, he plead not guilty and we have every intention of providing Mr. Saad an honest and aggressive defense."
The attorney says he's gathering evidence from witnesses and insists the full story has not been told, reporter Samer Hijazi writes in the Dearborn publication.
"Based on certain witness statements that have not yet been published, it is believed that the facts of this case have been mischaracterized,” Berry said, according to the publication. “Mr. Saad is presumed innocent, unless and until, a fact finder determines differently. As tragic as this event is, we must keep our minds open and listen and wait for all the facts to develop in this case."
Saad is being held on a $500,000 cash/surety bond for a July 10 court date.
The paper reports:
Saad, also a father of two, has been playing soccer in Michigan for more than 14 years. Those who know him claim he's never had violent tendencies while playing the game before.
Separately, an online fund drive for the victim's family has raised $110,000 from more than 1,800 donors as of Sunday night -- five days after it began.
Bieniewicz, a 44-year-old Westland resident, was a dialysis technician at Mott Children’s Hospital who is survived by his wife and two sons. He graduated in 1988 from Catholic Central High School, where he played football and basketball, attorney Jim Acho tells CBS Detroit. The men were friends since high school.
