In Queens Supreme Court Friday, State Senator Hiram Monserrate pleaded not guilty to charges he slashed his girlfriend in the face.

Monserrate was arrested in December after prosecutors say he slashed his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, in the face with a broken glass. The incident, prosecutors say, stemmed from an argument in Monserrate's Jackson Heights apartment.

Monserrate, a former police officer and member of the City Council, says it was an accident and that he tripped while holding the glass.

"From the very beginning, I've said this is an accident," he said following his Friday court appearance. "Karla has said this is an accident. Ladies and gentlemen, what occurred on December 19 was an accident. This district attorney's office had discussions with me about a plea, a non-felony plea that had attached to it no jail time. I said unequivocally, 'no,' because I am innocent."

He pled not guilty to all six of the second- and third-degree assault charges to a courtroom packed with supporters.

The indictment was unsealed Monday.

Giraldo, pictured right, originally said Monserrate attacked her, but later changed her story. She now supports his claim of innocence, is not pressing charges and at one point Friday was seen kissing Monserrate in the courtroom.

"I'm always saying it was an accident," said Giraldo at another news conference.

While Giraldo kissed Monserrate, the judge was in another room reviewing surveillance footage of the hallway outside of the state senator's apartment, where the alleged slashing took place. Giraldo is allegedly seen holding a towel to her face, while Monserrate is dragging her down the hallway.

Monserrate's lawyer said the video shows no violence.

But after watching the video, the judge ruled that an order of protection lasting through the end of the year be brought against Monserrate.

The Queens senator has been temporarily stripped of his chairmanship of the Senate's Consumer Affairs Committee. But his colleagues in the State Senate have discussed setting up a fund to help Monserrate pay his legal bills.

Monserrate's next court appearance is on June 26. If convicted of the top charges, he faces seven years in prison.