Telegraph file photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Marques Stanford, who is scheduled for trial in June on charges stemming from an alleged stabbing and assault in December, enters court for a bail hearing after his Dec. 20 arrest.

NASHUA – Marques Stanford, 30, stands accused of stabbing another man during a December brawl that reportedly began at a downtown pizza shop, continued across the street to a drugstore, and concluded in the intersection of Main and Hollis streets.

Stanford may claim at trial that he was trying to defend himself – and was therefore justified in using force against the alleged victim.

Barring a plea agreement or other type of settlement, Stanford will bring his case before a jury in June, when what the court estimates will be a three-day trial begins in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South.

Stanford, last known address of 9 1/2 Chandler St., has been in jail since his arrest early the morning of Dec. 20, the result of a melee that reportedly began at a pizza shop, moved across Main Street to the area of drugstore, then ended up in the intersection of Main and East and West Hollis streets.

Stanford was initially charged with one count each of first-degree assault, a felony, and convicted felons, also a felony, which accuses him of possessing a deadly weapon, a knife, as a convicted felon.

A felony charge of second-degree assault-deadly weapon was later filed against Stanford.

According to the trial track in Stanford’s case file, jury selection is scheduled to take place June 3, with trial itself to begin within two weeks of jurors being seated.

His final pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 23. Stanford is represented by Attorney Tony Naro, a public defender, while Assistant County Attorneys Cassie Devine and Brian Greklek-McKeon are prosecuting the case.

According to the notice of self-defense Naro filed recently, it’s possible Stanford will claim “the defense of justification,” meaning he contends “he was justified in attempting to use force upon the alleged victim, in order to defend himself.”

Based on “information and belief,” Naro wrote in the notice, “the alleged victim put Mr. Stanford in fear of imminent bodily injury or physical contact,” and is therefore “justified in the use of force to defend himself.”

On the night of the incident, police said officers responded to 7 Star Pizza, on the corner of Main and West Hollis streets, for a report of a stabbing.

While they were enroute, officers learned a man was chasing the alleged suspect on foot, and they were headed toward the CVS store at Main and East Hollis streets.

Police located both men, and a short time later, took Stanford into custody after identifying him as the alleged suspect.

Police also located a folding knife nearby, which was open and had “what appeared to be blood” on the blade, according to reports at the time.