Steelers' Adams Testifies Against 3 Suspects In Stabbing Case
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The trial for three men charged in the stabbing of Pittsburgh Steelers' lineman Mike Adams continued Wednesday.
He took the stand to testify against 26-year-old Michael Paranay, 26-year-old Dquay Means and 27-year-old Jerrell Whitlock.
Adams was stabbed last June outside of a restaurant on Pittsburgh's South Side.
Adams' testimony was marked by several objections and the jury needed to be removed from the courtroom at one point.
On the stand, Adams relived the early hours of June 1, 2013. That's when he was stabbed in front of a Cambodian restaurant at 17th Street and Carson Street.
Adams testified that Means approached his Ford pickup and said, "Give it up." Adams says he responded, "What do you mean give it up? I told him to backup."
Then, things went awry.
Adams claims Means "showed him a gun in his waist band." He quoted Means as saying, "He would shoot me in the face and kill me in front of everybody."
Then, Adams says Paranay "punched him from behind," and then Whitlock "stabbed me" on the arm and in the abdomen."
Adams had to undergo surgery and spent five days in the hospital.
Under cross examination, defense lawyers questioned whether Adams lied under oath when he said he had just "two mixed drinks" in the hours before the encounter.
They argued his blood alcohol level was .185, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Adams was also questioned about disciplinary problems at Ohio State University over the "abuse of marijuana."
Judge Anthony Mariani admonished the defense attorneys for "theatrics and editorializing."
However, the defense objected that Judge Mariani was showing a bias toward the jury.
The suspects are facing charges ranging from conspiracy to attempted homicide to attempted auto theft.
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