THE INDICTMENT of Charles Schwarz for perjury in the Abner Louima case presents lawyer Ronald P. Fischetti with perhaps his toughest decision since he first began defending the former police officer more than two years ago.

The question for Mr. Fischetti is this: Should he insist that the two perjury counts be tried together with Mr. Schwarz’s retrial for violating Mr. Louima’s civil rights, or should he fight for separate trials?