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Charges reduced in blade attack
By JAMIE MALERNEE © St. Petersburg Times, published November 21, 2000 A man formerly charged with attempted murder received four years and six months in prison Monday as part of a plea deal for his involvement in a near-fatal bar fight. Rudolph W. Superville, 32, of 6052 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, was found guilty of aggravated battery with serious injury. Authorities say Superville used a razor blade to attack a man at the Planet Bubba nightclub in March. The man, Wallace James Fisher, 24, nearly bled to death from wounds on his face and neck. Planet Bubba has since closed. The stabbing was the last of a growing number of fights and disturbances reported at the club on U.S. 19 in the single year it was open. Deputies responded to 22 disturbances, nine batteries, one assault and three injuries either at the club or Bubba's Ale House, which is next to it on Forest Oaks Boulevard. The club closed in May, one week after Hernando County commissioners slapped it with a $500 fine stemming from repeated noise complaints from neighbors. Sheriff's deputies say Superville attacked Fisher because he thought it was Fisher who injured him in a previous fight at Superville's house on March 2. Superville was cut on the face with a beer bottle in that fight. A few days later, Superville and his friends went looking for Fisher and found him drinking at Bubba's. David Charles Derbyshire, 22, of 13143 Drysdale St. in Spring Hill then handed Superville a razor blade, records state. Derbyshire's attorney, Ric Howard, said Monday that Superville wanted to cut Fisher only superficially, as he had been cut. Instead, the blade sunk deep and Fisher lost massive amounts of blood -- to the point that he had extremely low blood pressure when he arrived at Tampa General Hospital and had to be given an infusion of three pints. Deputies originally said Superville could face a charge of first-degree attempted murder; however, prosecutors decided to charge him with second-degree attempted murder. The count was reduced as part of the plea deal Monday. In addition to prison time, Superville faces 10 years of probation. He and Derbyshire, who previously was found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and put on two years of house arrest, will have to pay for the victim's medical bills and other related expenses, which top $15,000.
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