Two attorneys were injured on Monday in a Martinez, California, courtroom during a murder trial. The incident involved the defendant, Ramello Randle, allegedly using a pen to stab his defense lawyer before charging at the prosecutor.
Randle, 28, managed to break or cut through a restraint device and proceeded to stab his lawyer in the face and head with the pen. He then attempted to attack the prosecutor, causing a scratch on the prosecutor's hand. The courtroom deputy intervened by tackling Randle and arresting him.
A handwritten note found later indicated Randle's apology for the attack. The defense lawyer, Matthew Fregi, received treatment for stab wounds, while the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell, had his scratch examined. Witnesses reported that Bell retaliated by swinging back at Randle after being scratched.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident and stated that Randle would face additional charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and battery. Both attorneys refused medical attention after being assessed by the fire department.
The trial involving Randle, Fregi, and Bell is set to resume on Tuesday. The jury is deliberating on charges related to the murder of Randle's ex-girlfriend and attempted murder of another individual during a child custody dispute in 2020.
Randle is accused of collaborating with another individual to track and fatally shoot his ex-girlfriend. Evidence against Randle includes text messages, location trackers, and fingerprints on the suspected murder weapon.
This courtroom incident is not the first disruption caused by Randle. In a previous trial, his outburst led to a mistrial. Despite the attack, Fregi expressed hope to continue the trial that began six weeks ago.
Fregi emphasized that he harbors no ill will towards Randle and acknowledged that the situation could have been much worse. He viewed the attack as a means to an end and remained focused on completing the trial proceedings.
