Mr. Hope stopped his car in the drive-through lane.
Mr. Hope stated he got out of his car at the red light.
He wanted to speak to Mr. Connolly.
Judge Judy described this action as "whack a doodle, frightening."
She set the scene for Mr. Hope to explain further.
Conflicting Accounts at the Red Light
Mr. Hope claimed he got out of his car to speak to Mr. Connolly.
Mr. Connolly disputed this.
Mr. Connolly stated Mr. Hope never got out of his car.
He claimed Mr. Hope was too busy hitting his tire with his car.
Mr. Connolly said he turned his bike around at the red light.
He saw many cars behind Mr. Hope.
He wanted to escape the situation.
He proceeded to go in the opposite direction.
Mr. Hope claimed Mr. Connolly was enraged.
He said Mr. Connolly threatened his life.
Mr. Hope quoted Mr. Connolly as saying, "I'll come up and we'll do the South Chicago style."
Mr. Hope stated he realized he was not getting anywhere with Mr. Connolly.
He then got back into his car.
The Alleged Assault
Mr. Connolly believed he was free of Mr. Hope.
He was going in the opposite direction.
He then felt a big push on his back.
He claimed he was tackled into a car.
His bike broke.
His arm was severed.
He was on his bike, pedaling, when this happened.
Judge Judy asked Mr. Connolly to clarify the sequence.
She asked if Mr. Hope got behind him.
She asked if Mr. Hope touched the back of his bike with his car.
Mr. Connolly confirmed he turned his bike around to go the other way.
Judge Judy asked if he knocked Mr. Hope's mirror while doing that.
Mr. Connolly responded, "I don't recall hitting a bit of bike."
He added that Mr. Hope's face was very angry.
Judge Judy rephrased her question about knocking the mirror.
She asked if Mr. Hope then got out of the car.
Mr. Connolly said Mr. Hope screamed something first.
He then described feeling a big push on his back.
He said he "exploded into some car."
The light had turned green.
He hit the car.
He confirmed he was on his bike, pedaling, when this occurred.
He confirmed he was injured as a result.
Mr. Hope's Version of the Threat
Mr. Hope reiterated that Mr. Connolly was enraged.
He repeated the threat, "I'll come up and we'll do the South Chicago style."
Judge Judy asked Mr. Hope if that was what Mr. Connolly said.
Mr. Hope confirmed it.
He stated he was not getting anywhere with Mr. Connolly.
He then got back into his car.
Judge Judy noted that at that point, both were facing the same direction.
She reminded Mr. Hope he had been chasing Mr. Connolly.
She then pointed out Mr. Hope's statement that Mr. Connolly turned his bicycle around.
This would mean Mr. Connolly was going in the opposite direction.
Judge Judy stated it would be impossible for Mr. Connolly to follow Mr. Hope if he turned around.
She asked Mr. Hope to clarify which version was correct.