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Posted by simonov on 17 May 2007

From the AP wire.

A police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to beating a female bartender and to threatening to arrest bar employees in a failed attempt to suppress a video of the attack that has been viewed around the world.

In a brief hearing, Anthony Abbate’s attorney entered not guilty pleas to all 15 felony counts of aggravated battery, official misconduct, intimidation, conspiracy and communicating with a witness.

“He’s pleading not guilty because he is not guilty,” Peter Hickey said after the hearing. “And we expect at the end, the conclusion of the trial, that that’s what the outcome will be.”

The charges stem from a suspected beating Feb. 19 at a tavern on Chicago’s northwest side that occurred after bartender Karolina Obrycka apparently refused to serve an off-duty officer any more drinks.

Videotape from a surveillance camera in the tavern shows a man police say is the 250-pound Abbate punching, beating and throwing the 115-pound Obrycka to the floor.

You gotta admire the defense attorney’s cheek. Someone once said that trying to remove something from the Internet is like trying to remove pee from a swimming pool. Here’s a link to the video.

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