Florida man charged in death at O’Shea’s posts bail

A 37-year-old Florida man accused of murder for punching another man, which authorities said led to his death at a Strip casino last week, posted $25,000 bail and was released from the Clark County jail late Tuesday.

Benjamin Hawkins was arrested July 6 for punching John Massie, 46, in the face after a confrontation over comments Massie made to Hawkins at O'Shea's.

Massie died as a result of head trauma suffered when he fell to the floor, county coroner's officials ruled.

A Las Vegas justice of the peace early Tuesday ordered the low bail amount after concluding the facts of the case probably do not meet the level of first-degree murder.

Hawkins is a high school teacher and football coach from Bradford County, Fla.

A preliminary hearing in the case was set for Sept. 28. Hawkins is charged with open murder, which would allow a jury to consider charges of involuntary and voluntary manslaughter and second- and first-degree murder.

Hawkins, who is black, has claimed he was acting in self-defense when he punched Massie, who is white, after a confrontation that started when Massie made a comment about "a black man in a yellow shirt."

Both Massie of Roy, Utah, and Hawkins of Gainesville, Fla., were vacationing in Las Vegas at the time.