Trial date set in punching death of soccer league referee

DETROIT (AP) - A trial date has been set for a Detroit-area man charged with murder after punching a referee during a soccer match.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Thomas Cameron said during a final conference hearing Friday that Bassel Saad's trial will start Feb. 23.

Saad of Dearborn is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old John Bieniewicz (BEN'-uh-wits). Bieniewicz was struck once in the head during an adult recreational league game in Livonia last summer. He died two days later.

Players testified during Saad's preliminary examination that he had been issued a yellow card following a foul in the first half, and Bieniewicz was giving him a second yellow for being verbally abusive. That's when the referee was struck.

Saad rode away in a vehicle after Bieniewicz went down.