Busta To Stand Trial For Assault

Troubled rapper Busta Rhymes is to stand trial on two assault cases after rejecting a plea deal to serve six months behind bars.

Last month the hip-hop star, real name Trevor Smith, rejected Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy's offer to serve six months imprisonment to cover both assaults, along with orders of protection for the victims.

Smith is accused of beating his former driver Edward Hachett outside his Manhattan office in December (2006) and a separate incident in August (2006), in which he allegedly assaulted fan Robert Lebron on New York City's Randalls Island.

After he refused the offer, which included probation, community service and giving lectures to troubled youngsters, Kennedy withdrew the deal in court earlier today.

Smith, 34, rejected a second offer to spend a year in jail for the two cases, so will now plead his innocence in a trial.

The trial is set to begin on May 8, 2007.