Not guilty plea in alleged train assault

A renowned judo instructor and his friend - both accused of beating two men at the Menlo Park Caltrain station after friendly "horseplay" turned serious - will stand trial next month.

Matthew Walker, 25, of Tacoma, Wash., and Robert Eugene Davis, 22, of Redwood City, pleaded not guilty yesterday to assault charges and were ordered back to court Feb. 16 for trial.

According to prosecutors, Davis and Walker began talking to the two alleged victims Sept. 29 after Walker's judo jacket sparked a conversation. Walker is a renowned judo artist who recently placed in a world competition. The two men began "horseplaying" but the game grew too rough, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Davis reportedly took one man's cell phone after he tried calling police and both defendants allegedly attacked the other men.

One man suffered facial lacerations and a broken leg. The other was knocked unconscious and had facial lacerations.

Walker remains in custody in lieu of $100,000. Davis posted a $50,000 bail bond and is free from custody.