State Senator Hiram Monserrate will be back in court today for day three of his assault trial.

Prosecutors yesterday played a surveillance video from Monserrate's apartment building that shows him forcing his bleeding girlfriend Karla Giraldo out of the building.

The lawyers say it proves Monserrate was in a rage after slashing Giraldo with a broken glass.

But the defense says it shows Monserrate taking necessary action to get a reluctant Giraldo some medical attention after a freak accident.

"Much has been made about this video tape," said Joseph Tacopina, Monserrate's attorney. "I've read stories how it shows horrific acts of violence on behalf of Senator Monserrate; how he was kicking her, pulling her, assaulting her. Clearly, anyone looking at that objectively sees he did none of the sort. He put one arm around her arm, and used reasonable force, not violence, to get her out of there and get her to a hospital."

If convicted, Monserrate faces up to seven years in prison. He would also lose his State Senate seat.