Hearing Postponed For Soccer Player Charged In One-Punch Killing Of Referee

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A hearing for a Detroit-area soccer player charged in the one-punch slaying of a referee has been postponed.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway postponed a final conference hearing for Bassel Saad until next week.

Saad, a 36-year-old auto mechanic from Dearborn, is scheduled to go to trial on second-degree murder charges on Dec. 8.

Prosecutors and police say Saad, punched John Bieniewicz on June 29 as Bieniewicz was preparing to red-card and eject Saad during an adult recreational league game in Livonia.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's office says the blow knocked Bieniewicz out before he even hit the ground. He died two days later at a local hospital.

The attack on Bieniewicz came during the second half of an over-30 Michigan United Soccer League game. Bieniewicz reached into his pocket and was in the process of pulling out a red card when he was punched, according to witnesses and police, who said Saad fled while Bieniewicz was being tended to. [LISTEN TO THE 911 CALL]

Cause of death was "blunt impact to left side of his neck" the Medical Examiner said.

Saad's lawyer has said his client is sorry for his actions, but called prosecutors' second-degree murder case weak.

A witness said in an earlier probable cause hearing that the 44-year-old Bieniewicz did not expect the attack and didn't see the punch coming.

"He put his head down, put his hand in his pocket, and went to raise the red card, as he did that, I saw Mr. Saad take a few steps and throw a punch," said a witness.

"It was a pretty quick motion," the witness added,"sort of looked over the left shoulder, saw the ref approaching him from this direction – about to give him the card – and sort of turned back … and he turned back and swung in the direction of his head."

Bieniewicz was a dialysis technician at Mott Children's Hospital who lived in Westland with his wife and two sons.

Saad faces up to life in prison if convicted as charged.

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