Opening statements begin Monday for ex-Suns players' in assault case

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday in the aggravated assault trial of NBA players and identical twins Markieff and Marcus Morris, along with another man charged with them.

The Morris twins and Gerald Bowman are scheduled to be back in Maricopa County Superior Court for the statements at 10 a.m., court officials said. Jury selection took place on Wednesday.

Two other defendants, Julius Kane and Christopher Melendez, chose to avoid trial and instead pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of aggravated assault, court officials said.

Sentencing for Kane and Melendez is scheduled for Oct. 16 at 10 a.m.

The Morris twins were among five men charged in a physical altercation outside of a high school basketball game in January 2015, while the Morrises were playing for the Phoenix Suns.

Marcus Morris now is a forward for the Boston Celtics. Markieff Morris is a forward for the Washington Wizards.

MORE: NBA's Morris twins sued over 2015 altercation in Phoenix

Police say Erik Hood identified the Morris twins as being part of the group that attacked him to the point of unconsciousness after hearing rumors that Hood had been sending “inappropriate” texts to their mother, Thomasine Morris.

Hood told police that he and the Morris twins, now 28 years old, had been friends for some time and that he was a mentor to them while they were in high school.

The twins confirmed to police that they were at the game that night but denied any part of the attack.

All five men were charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

Check back with azcentral.com for more details.

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