"Housewives" Fiance Ashley "A.J." Jewell Started Fatal Fight, Says Defense Lawyer
NEW YORK(CBS) Kandi Burruss' on-again off-again fiancé Ashley "A.J." Jewell started the fight that led to his death Friday night, a defense attorney for his accused killer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in court Tuesday.
Photos: "Real Housewives," Real Trouble
Jewell, who was engaged to "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star and Grammy-winning songwriter Kandi Burruss, got into a fight Oct. 2, with Frederick Richardson outside of Body Tap, an Atlanta strip club where the two worked. Police say Jewell sustained head injuries and was beaten to death, however the medical examiner's office has not released a report as of Tuesday.
Richardson's attorney, Dennis Scheib, told the newspaper that Jewell had been sitting in his client's office with a gun earlier in the day on Friday. Scheib told reporters that Jewell told Richardson, "I've got something for you," at that time.
On Friday night, in the parking lot "A.J. comes out and says, 'I've got something for you.' He takes off his shirt … and hits Richardson twice," Scheib said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Richardson maintains that he left the scene of the fight while Jewell was still alive, Scheib told the newspaper. "A.J. was walking away, he wasn't beaten to death," he told reporters.
Scheib told reporters that at this point in the case a manslaughter charge is unwarranted because, "We don't know what killed him."
Richardson is currently being held on charges of voluntary manslaughter without bond until his next court appearance on Oct. 20, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Photos: "Real Housewives," Real Trouble
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