New blow for Rod Stewart as son ordered to stand trial over road rage incident

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Julius Title acknowledged that witnesses for the prosecution and defence offered conflicting testimony over the incident in which a couple were ruffed up outside a party in the Hollywood Hills.

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But he ruled that there was sufficient evidence to allow the case against Sean Stewart to proceed.

"It will be up to the trial court to decide the credibility of the witnesses," Title said.

Stewart, who is one of the stars of the American TV reality show 'Sons of Hollywood,' pleaded not guilty in June to three charges, including assault with a deadly weapon. He remains free on bail.

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Tobalus Stein and his wife Ericka said in their civil lawsuit filed in May that they were in a vehicle around 4 a.m. on April 22 when 27-year-old Stewart and other members of his entourage began "swinging their arms at, punching, throwing bricks and other items at" at the truck.

They claim that they were hit in the unprovoked attack.

The couple claimed to have suffered "shock, horror, fright, worry, grief, shame, embarrassment, anger and chagrin." They are seeking unspecified damages.

Ericka Stein testified at Stewart's hearing this week that she got a bruise on her chest from a brick that was thrown at her. Her husband and said it took hours to remove broken glass from her back.

She told the judge that her husband eventually grabbed a brick and threw it back at Stewart and their other assailants, telling them to leave the couple alone.

Stewart's lawyer has accused the Steins of targeting his client due to his celebrity, claiming their allegations against his client are financially motivated.

Defence lawyer Dana Cole called two witnesses, which is an unusual move at a preliminary hearing, who said they were in a Rolls Royce Phantom with Stewart the morning of the alleged attack.

Brian Koifman, the Rolls Royce's driver, and Megan Forsha said others outside the car, not Stewart, threw items at the Steins' pick-up vehicle.

Stewart was seated in the car's passenger seat and only got out when the windscreen in front of him was shattered by a rock or brick, Koifman testified.

Forsha claimed the truck had refused to let them pass and that Stewart was still inside the car when objects were being thrown.

Cole said he summoned the defence witnesses because he wanted the judge who is assigned to the case and the prosecution "to see there are two sides to this particular incident."

Stewart has been ordered to return to court on October 3.