Big Pun and Fat Joe trial

Big Punisher and Fat Joe are scheduled to defend themselves against assault and robbery charges in a Bronx, N.Y., courtroom Friday morning in connection with allegations that the two heavyweight rappers beat a man and stole his gold chain. The two rappers, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges, are alleged to have clubbed a man with a baseball bat and stolen his gold chain at a Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York on July 14, according to Gloria Cullen, a spokeswoman with the Bronx district attorney's office. "Right now, we have the two men scheduled for trial Friday morning in Bronx criminal court," Cullen said, adding that both rappers have been charged with second-degree assault and robbery. Big Punisher (born Christopher Rios), 26, and Fat Joe (born Joe Cartagena), 28, were arrested Sept. 8 for the alleged incident, which prosecutors claim took place at the corner of Willis and 132nd Street on the afternoon that the rappers made an appearance on a float in the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Fat Joe was arrested Sept. 8 after an autograph-signing session at an HMV music store on West 34th Street in the Bronx. According to Roberto Goodin, the store's urban-music supervisor, the rapper was informed during the signing that police were going to arrest him as soon as he left the store. The police allowed him to finish the signing session and took him into custody once he left the building.