Gerard Butler - Butler's Criminal Battery Case Delayed

Sottish actor GERARD BUTLER won't have to face up to his criminal battery charge just yet - his lawyer successfully persuaded a judge to delay the arraignment until next month (Aug09).

The 300 hunk was charged in May (09) with attacking a paparazzo outside the Los Angeles premiere of Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla in 2008.

Despite the snapper insisting the actor lashed out at him and punched him the mouth, Butler's lawyers claim he was forced to act because the photographer was stalking the star, almost killing a pedestrian as he chased him through Hollywood.

Butler was due at an L.A. court on 10 June (09) but put in a request to delay the case.

And the judge agreed - moving the date back until 18 August (09), according to Access Hollywood. It is not known why Butler made the request for a delay as WENN went to press.