Royal jaw-buster Adam Hock turned down a no-jail plea in a Manhattan courtroom today — insisting he’ll go to trial to prove he was the victim of “international bar brawlers” in his flashy February fight with the Prince of Monaco.
“We have information that these four individuals are known bar brawlers,” Hock’s new lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, insisted after a brief court appearance today, referring to Prince Pierre Casiraghi and the three royal pals Hock is charged with also decking.
“They’re international bar brawlers — Paris, Belize, the US,” Tacopina said.
Hock, the beefy former owner of the HawaiianTropic Zone in Times Square, is fighting misdemeanor assault charges after busting Casiraghi’s jaw with a single punch at the Double Seven.
Prosecutors say Hock popped not only Casiraghi, but three members of his royal posse: Paris Hilton-ex Stavros Niarchos, Diego Marroquin and Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld. It was a fracas that witnesses say sent a gaggle of attendant fashion models scurrying into the street.
“They’ve started brawls in prior instances,” Hock’s lawyer told reporters, declining to describe the instances, except to say, “To date, I have evidence of a half dozen of them. At times it’s all four of them, or two of them, or just one. They’re not always together.”
Under the deal offered today, Hock could have pled guilty to the top charge of third degree assault and stayed out of jail by completing a 12-week anger management program.
But Hock will never plead guilty in the case, not even to a reduced charge of a violation, Tacopina told reporters. Three eyewitnesses are already on board to say that Hock was not the aggressor, and only swung to protect himself from a four-against-one pile on, the lawyer said. Hock will himself need surgery for a tear to his shoulder he claims was caused by Roitfeld swinging a vodka bottle at him.
“These are four drunk guys who make a living trying to get their names in the papers,” Tacopina complained.
Also today, prosecutors turned over to the defense ten minutes worth of surveillance video from inside the club; Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Michelle Armstrong ordered it be sealed, on the request of prosecutors, so that a future jury pool is not “tainted” by seeing evidence in advance.
Hock returns to court May 24.