Trial delayed for soccer player in referee slaying

DETROIT (AP) - A trial for a Detroit-area soccer player charged in the one-punch slaying of a referee has been delayed until next year after a new judge was assigned to the case. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway recused herself last Thursday from the case of Bassel Saad, stating that one of his lawyers had represented her in the past and her background in sports affected her ability to hear the case. The second-degree murder case has been assigned to Judge Thomas Cameron. A motion hearing is Nov. 21 and the trial is set for Feb. 19. Prosecutors and police say the 36-year-old Dearborn man punched 44-year-old John Bieniewicz on June 29 as Bieniewicz was preparing to red-card and eject Saad during an adult recreational league game in Livonia. Published: Mon, Nov 10, 2014