Accused in bar stabbing, Dustin Diamond in court to prepare for jury trial set to begin in late May

OZAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- Facing charges in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred at a Port Washington bar in December, Dustin Diamond, the actor who played "Screech" in Saved by the Bell was in court in Ozaukee County Thursday, April 2nd.

In court, the state moved to admit some evidence in the case, and that motion was denied by the court.

There was then discussion about questionnaires for jurors as it relates to Diamond's upcoming jury trial. The questionnaires will be mailed out by the court by April 17th.

Diamond will be back in court on May 11th.

His jury trial is set to begin in late May.

Diamond's girlfriend, 27-year-old Amanda Schutz is charged with disorderly conduct. She also has a jury trial scheduled for late May.

Diamond and his girlfriend were arrested after an argument turned violent. According to an arrest report in the case, the stabbing took place late on Christmas during an argument in the Grand Avenue Saloon. Diamond said he and his girlfriend were inside the bar when a group of intoxicated people started behaving in a rude and insulting manner, leading him to believe “there was going to be a brawl,” the report said. He said he turned to close his account and get their coats. But when he looked back, his girlfriend was bleeding and two men were holding her hair, the report said. Diamond said he moved toward his girlfriend when a man grabbed him, the report said. Diamond said he might have stabbed the man with a pen used to sign a credit card receipt, but later conceded he was armed with the knife, the report said.

Diamond and Schutz drove away from the bar and were stopped by police, who said they found a “stiletto folding knife with a 3.75-inch blade, which uses a thumb stud and assisted opening mechanism.” Police said the tip of the knife was moist.