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Defense lawyer ordered to testify for prosecution
Associated Press

PONTIAC, Mich. -- A lawyer for the man charged with throwing a chair during the Nov. 19 brawl at the game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons must testify for the prosecution, a judge has ruled.

Kenneth Karasick had sought a court order to keep prosecutors from calling him to testify against his client, Bryant Jackson.

Charges were filed against five Pacers players and seven Pistons fans, including the 35-year-old Jackson.

Prosecutors say that when Karasick met with Auburn Hills police to review a videotape of the fight, he told a detective, "That's our boy," when the chair thrower appeared on the screen.

On Wednesday, attorneys for Karasick argued that forcing him to testify would violate attorney-client privilege. Oakland County assistant prosecutor Paul Walton said that the privilege applied only to conversations Karasick had with Jackson, not those with the Auburn Hills detective.

Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot agreed with prosecutors but said they would have to limit their questioning of Karasick to what he said to police about the video, according to the Detroit Free Press and The Daily Oakland Press.

Karasick has denied making the statement to police and has said, through his attorney, that if he is called to the stand, he will repeat his denial under oath.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 23.