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Brawling newlyweds face more charges
PITTSBURGH - A bride and groom accused of fighting with members of another wedding party at their Western Pennsylvania hotel now face more serious charges.
Christa and David Wielechowski were initially charged with simple assault and related counts after the April 27 brawl. Police allege that David Wielechowski kicked his wife, and that both then fought members of another wedding party who tried to help her. The Wielechowskis have said they were joking but had to defend themselves when attacked.
On Friday, Ross Township police charged David Wielechowski, 32, with two counts of aggravated assault and his wife, 25, with one count of aggravated assault. Both were also charged with criminal conspiracy and several additional simple assault counts.
Police cited injuries to two men who tried to intervene. One was kicked in the groin and will likely need surgery, and the other is scheduled for surgery to repair a thumb ligament, according to the criminal complaint.
Attorneys for the Wielechowskis disputed police and witness accounts and maintained that their clients were victims, not aggressors. They suggested that the new charges had been filed because the Wielechowskis told their side in a television interview.
Sgt. William Barrett of the Ross Township police described the night as "quite a melee" and said it had taken time to sort things out and determine the severity of injuries. But it was clear early on that further charges would be coming, he said.
