NEW YORK (AP) — 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.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.