Man Pleads Not Guilty to Slapping His Lawyer in Court

A Massachusetts man awaiting his third trial on a murder charge has pleaded not guilty to charges he slapped his lawyer in the face in open court.

Authorities said 35-year-old Janleer Povez of Worcester hit his appointed lawyer, Elliot Levine, at a June hearing. Povez had said he didn't want Levine as his lawyer.

He is facing a second-degree murder charge for allegedly stabbing a Westborough man during a drug deal in 2008.

Povez was removed from the courtroom following the alleged outburst and the judge declared a mistrial. Levine suffered a fat lip.

Telegram & Gazette reports Povez told a judge Thursday he wants to represent himself on all of the charges against him except the second-degree murder charge. Povez's cases were continued to Jan. 6