Michigan man charged in soccer referee death due in court

DETROIT -- A Detroit-area soccer player charged in the one-punch slaying of a referee is scheduled for a court appearance Friday.

Prosecutors and police say 36-year-old Bassel Saad, of Dearborn, Mich., punched John Bieniewicz on June 29 as Bieniewicz was preparing to red-card and eject Saad during an adult recreational soccer game in Livonia, Mich.

Saad's lawyer has said his client is sorry for his actions, but also 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. Bieniewicz lived in Westland, Mich., with his wife and two sons.

Saad is to appear before Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway, according to court records. His second-degree murder trial is set for Dec. 8.