A defense lawyer says a man accused of drunkenly stabbing three people on a New York City subway platform was just defending himself.

Ivan DeLeon was arraigned Sunday on assault and other charges in Saturday’s violence at a subway station under Grand Central Terminal.

Defense attorney Alan Abramson says DeLeon “had to fight for his life” while being “viciously beaten by a group of men.” Abramson says DeLeon was left with bruises on his face.

Prosecutors, however, say it started when DeLeon bumped into a child who was accompanied by several adults.

Investigators say the 38-year-old DeLeon swore at the adults to get out of the way, threatened them and then pulled out a folding knife and wounded three men. One was critically hurt, but all are expected to survive.

(AP)