The lawyer for the Queens man accused of plotting the vicious slashing of a 16-year-old Chinese exchange student last December asked the judge to throw the press out of the courtroom during his arraignment Tuesday, citing “the issues and the sensitivity involved in this case.”

Wilson Lai, 25, was charged in Queens criminal court with assault, endangering the welfare of a child and rape.

Lawyer Jeffrey Cohen blasted the media, saying: “I do not think your honor has any power over the press to prevent the press from printing or making any false statements.”

The judge ultimately denied the request.

Lai was busted last week for plotting the Dec. 16 attack, which was actually supposed to be aimed at another teenage girl he was allegedly dating at the time.