The NYPD yesterday defended itself against charges of police brutality as yet another videotape showing cops beating a handcuffed suspect surfaced.

The grainy security video, taken at 5 a.m. on Jan. 1, shows several officers punching and kicking a man identified by his lawyer as Nagi Benson, 30.

Benson and a friend who also claims to have been beaten by the cops say they plan to sue the city for $5 million.

But Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says there’s more to the story than what’s on the video.

“There was a large fight,” he said. “One officer was punched in the face and another in the back of the head.”

And police union President Pat Lynch said, “What is sometimes misunderstood is that necessary force looks violent and is never pretty.”

The Brooklyn DA’s Office is investigating the allegations against the department, which just last week suspended two Bronx officers caught on video beating a cuffed suspect.