Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najeh Davenport's Domestic Violence Trial Starts

Cleveland,OH (AHN) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back Davenport's trial on domestic violence began Friday in the Cleveland Municipal Courts with Davenport's attorney denying the allegations of one Anita Person, mother of Davenport's child, that the accused hit her.

Davenport, 29, facing misdemeanor domestic violence and child endangering charges stemming from a child custody dispute, asserted that the allegations were untrue and the incident did not happen. Patrick D'Angelo, Davenport's attorney, offered photos showing Person's face and neck without any marks that would substantiate the charges.

City prosecutors aver that Davenport slammed Person to the ground, then hit her and tried to choke her when the accused came to pick up his 5-after for a weekend visit on Oct. 4.

According to the police, Davenport made threats to keep the child and drove off. Person tried to remove the child from the vehicle, she unbuckled the child's seat belt but Davenport hit her and choked her. He then slammed her to the ground while she held the boy.

Davenport countered that Person started to became upset when she learned of his plans to seek custody over the child. She allegedly climbed into the back seat of car while it was moving and kneeled on his 2-year-old son while grabbing the 5-year-old. She later scratched Davenport's face when they got out of the car.

The Steelers declined to issue any comment on the Davenport's case.

Davenport is the fourth Steelers player since 2006 to be accused of domestic violence. He could face a jail sentence of 14 months, if found guilty and will be suspended from the National Football League.