An early-morning brawl left a Spokane man unconscious with a 6-inch gash on his head, police say.

Joshua L. Schmidt, 28, and Christopher M. Martin, 26, beat Eric W. Ledoux after Ledoux called Schmidt a profane name while they were in a car May 10 about 3:38 a.m.

The car stopped and Schmidt pulled the victim from the backseat at 2518 E. South Altamont Blvd. and punched and kicked him unconscious as Martin threatened two passengers and told them not to say anything.

The defendants and victim had just met that night, witnesses told police.

Witnesses said Martin prevented anyone from helping Ledoux, who was treated at a hospital for cuts and gashes, including a shoe print on his bottom chin. Police arrived to find Ledoux covered in blood with his face badly swollen; Schmidt had swollen knuckles and Martin had blood spots on his shoes.

Both suspects were booked into jail.

Martin pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted first-degree assault and three counts of intimidating a witness. Schmidt pleaded not guilty today to attempted first-degree assault.

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