N.J. Air Rage Trial Begins

N E W A R K, N.J., March 20 -- An airline passenger went on trial today oncharges of hurling a gate agent and breaking the man's neck in analleged bout of air rage.

John Davis, 29, of Fredericksburg, Va., is charged withaggravated assault against Continental Airlines agent AngeloSottile in a scuffle at the Newark airport in July 1999. Thecharges carry a maximum of up to 10 years in prison.

As the trial's first day came to a close, Sottile said he spentfive days in a coma after the scuffle and can't remember theencounter.

"I am in pain every day," testified Sottile, who has troublemoving his neck.

Davis and 10 of his relatives had been waiting three hours for aflight to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., when Davis'2-year-old daughter scampered into the passage that leads from theterminal to waiting planes. Davis' wife, Victoria, went after thetoddler. Sottile followed, as did Davis.

Davis said he fought back when Sottile pushed Mrs. Davis againsta wall.

A 'Very Professional' Scuffle

Continental agent Ana Bautista, who was working at an adjacentgate, said Davis already was enraged about the flight delay andgrew violent when he and his wife were prevented from entering thepassage after their little girl.

Davis, an assistant manager at a steel plant, picked Sottile up"very professionally" and tossed him about 6 feet, Bautistatestified. Sottile landed headfirst and needed surgery to fusethree vertebrae.

"It looked like he knew what he was doing," Bautista said.

Continental agent Anna Pelaez gave similar testimony.

Self-Defense Claimed

The case has drawn attention to air rage among passengersfrustrated by flight delays, crowding and other problems.

Prosecutor Leslie Mann told the jurors not to let personalfeelings over airport delays or bad treatment by airline employeesinfluence their judgment.

"This is not a trial about how people feel about air travel,"Mann said.

Defense attorney Anthony Pope said Davis acted in self-defense.