An individual threatened in the alleged Feb. 23 assault at Hubbard Hall gave about two hours of testimony in court Friday.

The combined preliminary examination for two men arrested in connection with the incident was then adjourned to July 28, a court official said.

Defense lawyers used messages and a photo from Facebook.com as evidence in the proceeding at the 54-B District Court and took a 10-minute recess to upload and examine how the Web site works.

MSU student Albert Reginald Robinson, 19, and nonstudent Joel Ross Hamlar, 17, were arrested Feb. 23 in connection with the alleged assault in Hubbard Hall, which involved three assailants — one with a handgun — threatening three occupants in a South Hubbard Hall room. One of the assailants poured gasoline on an individual in the room and threatened to light it.

Nonstudent Roy Lee Holt, 38, was also arrested in connection with the incident.

MSU student Nicholas Antoine Palmer, who was in the South Hubbard Hall room at the time the assailants entered, testified in court Friday and identified Robinson and Hamlar as two of the three assailants.

According to Palmer's testimony, Robinson, Hamlar and another man he didn't recognize — who he referred to as "Robinson's uncle" — came into Palmer's room with a black handgun around noon on Feb. 23. Palmer said the third man pointed the gun at everyone in the room and asked if they were someone known as "A.B.," later identified as one of Palmer's friends.

"I didn't know what was going on," Palmer said. "I was basically shocked."

A.B.'s full name could not be confirmed Sunday.

Kevin Howard Towns, a Lansing Community College student who was staying in the room, "smiled and laughed" when the gun was pointed at him, according to Palmer's testimony. The assailant holding the gun then proceeded to pour gasoline from an Aquafina bottle onto Towns and threatened to light it with a burning cigarette he had in his mouth, Palmer said.

"You could smell (the gasoline)," he said. "(The assailant) said, 'Do you think this is a joke?'"

In Palmer's testimony, he said both Robinson and the third individual were in the room, but Hamlar stood in the doorway with only one foot inside. After the other individuals were threatened, Palmer said he didn't notice if Hamlar was still there or had gone.

Hugh Barrington Clarke Jr., defense attorney for Robinson, asked Palmer about incidents leading up to the alleged assault. In court, Clarke referenced the Facebook profile belonging to one of the other individuals allegedly threatened on Feb. 23, MSU student Robert James Nelson.

On Nelson's "wall" — a conversation thread in the profile — one of Palmer's friends, Ali Anderson, posted an excerpt referencing a group called the "Original Hitmen" and made threatening remarks regarding "Albert from MSU in Brody." Palmer's name and photo accompanied a response to the post, dated Feb. 22, which repeats the term "Original Hitmen."

Palmer said in court, however, that he didn't post the reply. He said other people have access to his Facebook password, including his cousin — who is currently in high school — A.B. and D'Juan Underwood, his roommate at Hubbard Hall.

Facebook users can request to have their names changed, and the change is reflected in all places where the name has a hyperlink, including photo captions. Users cannot post messages on a wall using someone else's name or photo unless they have access to that individual's Facebook password.

About a week prior to the Feb. 23 incident, there were alleged assaults against Robinson, his mother said in a Feb. 24 State News story. Clarke also referenced the alleged assaults on Robinson, asking Palmer in court if he had ever been present or participated in an attack on Robinson outside of Hubbard Hall.

Palmer admitted to being present, alongside many other spectators, but did not participate. He said Anderson, A.B. and others attacked Robinson and the group he was with.

Clarke also asked Palmer, who is charged with criminal enterprise — a felony punishable with up to 20 years in prison — in the MSU Federal Credit Union scam, if he cut a deal with the prosecution to lower the sentence in that case if he testified against Robinson and Hamlar. Palmer denied the allegation in court.

Lindsey Poisson can be reached at poisson4@msu.edu.