Court officials were left seriously injured after a defendant leaped over the bench to attack the judge in a Las Vegas court yesterday
The extraordinary event was captured by courtroom video conferencing software and is now being widely shared online. The video shows defendant Deobra Delone Redden launching himself over the bench to land on Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus.
He is quickly wrestled off by court officials, who can be seen punching him whilst Judge Holthus is out of sight, having fallen to the ground.
The attack occurred while Judge Holthus was giving her sentencing, making it clear that Redden, 30, would be going to prison. Earlier in the trial, he had asked for a lenient sentence, telling the judge, ‘I’m not a rebellious person.’ He described himself as ‘a person who never stops trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it is’. He did not think he should be sent to prison but told the judge, ‘If it’s appropriate for you, then you have to do what you have to do.’
As the video shows, Redden began shouting expletives as court officials moved to handcuff him before jumping across the barrier on top of Judge Holthus. Her face shows she can guess what is about to happen, but she barely has time to start trying to get up before he jumps. Richard Scow, the chief county district attorney who prosecuted Redden, commented: ‘It happened so fast it was hard to know what to do.’
Judge Holthus did not require hospitalization, but a court aide who sustained a gash to the head and a dislocated shoulder is being treated for his injuries.
Redden’s offences
Redden was being tried for battery after he allegedly attacked someone with a baseball bat last year. He had pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted battery causing substantial bodily harm. The three-time felon has previously been in prison for domestic battery, according to state records.
He was rearrested after yesterday’s events and is now facing a barrage of new charges, including battery of a protected person. Under Nevada law, attacking judges, school teachers, police officers and other officials in the ‘protected’ class carries a heavier sentence than other types of battery.
