Rapper Rhymes faces four trials

Manhattan District Court Judge Larry Stephen ruled the prosecution could not combine the two assault charges.
The four trials will run consecutively, starting on 5 September.
On hearing the news, the 34-year-old rapper gave a celebratory "high five" hand slap to his defence lawyer, Scott Leemon.

 
"The decision today validates the defence's argument," Leemon said.
"We detailed to the court that we have defence to these cases and the court agreed."
Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Jones, also refused for the second time the offer of a year in jail to cover all four cases.