MELBOURNE, May 30 (UPI) -- Australian police Tuesday pressed assault charges against former world boxing champion Lester Ellis, who reportedly asked officers to shoot him.
Ellis was scheduled to appear in court in Melbourne Wednesday.
Ellis' trouble with the law began last week and included two suicide attempts -- once slashing his arms and the second by jumping in front of several cars and a train -- and a family fight. Police said they tried to subdue him with pepper spray but it had no effect, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported.
Ellis' brother, Geoff, told the newspaper the boxer was suffering from alcoholism and depression.
Ellis held titles in five weight classes. In 2002, when he was 37, he ended his retirement to fight Anthony Mundine but the bout was called after three rounds and Ellis lost.
