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Lawyer Of Subway Slashing Suspect: It Was Self-Defense

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A defense lawyer says a man accused of drunkenly stabbing three people on a New York City subway platform was just defending himself.

Ivan DeLeon was arraigned Sunday on assault and other charges in Saturday's violence at the Grand Central Terminal subway station.

Defense attorney Alan Abramson said DeLeon "had to fight for his life" while being "viciously beaten by a group of men." Abramson said DeLeon was left with bruises on his face.

Prosecutors, however, say it started when DeLeon bumped into a child who was accompanied by several adults.

Investigators say the 38-year-old DeLeon swore at the adults to get out of the way, threatened them and then pulled out a folding knife and wounded three men. One was critically hurt, but all are expected to survive.

The child was not harmed.

While some straphangers told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern incidents like Saturday's slashings make them nervous riding the subway, others said they still feel safe.

"It's a city of 8 million people," said Greg. "You're always going to have events like that. It just can't be avoided with that many people. I think the subways are safe, and I think they run well."

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