A Douglas County judge Monday ordered a 22-year-old Atchison man accused of punching and injuring a Lawrence man in June to stand trial.

A friend of the alleged victim testified at a preliminary hearing Monday and identified Joshua W. Downing as the man who had exited a vehicle and punched his friend twice about 2:30 a.m. June 30 as the group of friends were walking near Lawrence High School, 1901 La. He said the driver of the vehicle Downing was riding in had made a U-turn and stopped next to them before the altercation.

The Lawrence man suffered a head injury and was bleeding, according to testimony in the case. Downing, who is a student at a Kentucky college, faces an aggravated battery charge in the case.

Defense attorney Charles Whitman said in court Friday that the driver stopped the car Downing was riding in because someone in the group walking was accused of making an offensive gesture toward the car.

District Judge Kay Huff scheduled a March 7 trial in the case.