Jury trial for Cedric Benson to begin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A jury trial is set to begin Monday in the case against former University of Texas football player Cedric Benson, charged with assault in connection with a Downtown Austin bar fight last year.

Police said a scuffle erupted at Annie's West bar on May 30, with the distrubance beginning at 1:50 a.m. between Benson and an unknown person. Bar staff separated them , and they escorted Benson out as he allegedly spit blood from his injured lip.

Court documents indicate bar staff tried to figure out what happened between Benson and the other person when Benson began to become "verbally aggressive toward the bar staff."

When he refused to leave after bar staff reportedly asked him several times to leave, the bar manager and a bartender physically escorted the athlete out of the bar.

Once outside, Benson allegedly punched the bartender on the left side of his face -- striking him once.

Austin police arrived on scene to gather witness statements and video evidence from the bar, which they said recorded the incident.

Authorities arrested Benson and charged him with assault with injury, a Class A misdemeanor.