Sean Penn's supermodel ex rejects plea deal in fistfight case

Jessica White has modeled for Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret.

Hermann for News

Jessica White has modeled for Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret.

Supermodel Jessica White was dressed for the catwalk on Tuesday when she rejected a plea deal in a catfight over a late-night taxi.

Her long hair cascading over a knee-length striped fur and leather coat, White posed silently as her lawyer promised to fight the misdemeanor assault case.

White - a fixture in the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with eight appearances - wasted no time strutting away from a proposal that would have guaranteed her no jail.

"We decline the offer," defense lawyer Mark Heller told Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Marc Whiten. "We will be ready to proceed to trial."

Heller and the Naomi Campbell look-alike are due back in court May 17 for trial.

The internationally known model was most recently linked to Oscar-winner Sean Penn, and previously dated actor Vin Diesel and singer John Legend.

The Buffalo native was also seeing NFL star Terrell Owens, appearing on his reality program "The T.O. Show." She recently cut a deal for her own show on the Oxygen network.

The Victoria's Secret model was charged in a Oct. 23, 2010, fight with Vanessa Kian over a cab outside the Avenue Lounge on Tenth Ave.

White is accused of punching Kian repeatedly in the face, causing cuts, swelling and "substantial pain," prosecutors said. She's also charged with harassment.

The model had been celebrating her split from Penn before the scuffle, Heller has said. She spent about 12 hours in police custody.

White turned down a deal of two days community service, two days anger management and $446.96 in restitution.

Heller insisted Kian, 28, was the aggressor in the dustup and promised a video of the brawl will clear White. He's also expected to call several witnesses to back up White's version of the taxi throwdown.

"She is going to be completely exonerated at trial," Heller said. "She is innocent."

mgrace@nydailynews.com

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