Trial for Ole Miss coach Kennedy delayed

Jan 16, 2009 - 9:44 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy, charged with assaulting a cab driver during the Rebels' trip to Cincinnati in December, will not have to face trial until after the NCAA Tournament.

A judge on Friday continued Kennedy's case until April - following the conclusion of the tournament.

Kennedy, who was arrested December 18, is accused of hitting and verbally abusing cabbie Mohammed Jiddou, who claims the coach punched him and used ethnic slurs.

The Rebels were in Cincinnati at the time for the SEC/Big East Invitational.

Charged with a first-degree misdemeanor count of assault, Kennedy could face a maximum sentence of six months in prison if convicted. He denied the allegations, however, and filed a defamation lawsuit against the cab driver.

On Friday, Jiddou filed a counter lawsuit against Kennedy. Jiddou's claim accuses Kennedy of assault, ethnic intimidation and filing a frivolous lawsuit.