The Justin Bieber bodyguard being sued alongside the singer in a battery and negligence lawsuit has claimed he acted in self-defense against the complainant, a photographer who alleges he was attacked in June outside a Miami recording studio.
Hugo Hesny claims he used “reasonable force” in a confrontation with photographer Jeffrey Binion after he took snaps of Bieber taking a break outside the Hit Factory Recording Studio on June 5.
It’s claimed Hesny was armed and that he and three other bodyguards threw Binion against a wall, and “strangled” him in a “choke hold” while the memory card was stolen from his camera.
According to GossipExtra, the bodyguard’s filing reads, “Hesny affirmatively alleges that he was acting in self-defense and used reasonable force.”
Hesny’s response to the Miami-Dade County court filing comes after Bieber was ordered last week by a Miami circuit judge to attend a videotaped deposition in Calif., in January.
The pop singer is required to turn up at the Santa Monica, Calif., law offices of Kinsella Weitzman at 10 am on January 23.
During the deposition , Bieber will be grilled by Boca Raton, Fl. attorney Larry Adler, acting for Binion.
Back in August, Justin’s legal team denied all three counts filed against the teen singer — battery, liability for intentional acts of Hesny, and negligence.
The “Heartbreaker” star has reportedly also denied personally hiring Hesny.
In a statement given to GossipExtra , Adler said,”Hesny and three others, including rapper Lil Za, crossed the street to attack my client because Justin Bieber did not want his picture taken in public.”
The attorney added : “It’s bad enough that nobody has taken any responsibility for this incident, but it’s outrageous for any of the attackers to claim that they acted in self-defense or used ‘reasonable force’ against Mr. Binion. They shouldn’t have used any force.”
According to court papers, Binion, 57, weighs 136 pounds.
Adler also claims Hesny is not properly licensed to work as a security guard or carry the firearm its alleged Hesny carried on him.
Hesny’s lawyer, Elias Hilas, denies those allegations.
Bieber is currently in South Korea moving through the Asia leg of his Believe world tour. He is due to perform at Olympic Park, Seoul on Thursday.