An Oakland man on trial within the killing of his ex-girlfriend lower by means of a lap restraint and attacked his lawyer with a pen, then lunged towards the prosecutor, making a chaotic courtroom scene Monday as a Contra Costa County jury watched, officers stated.
Ramello Randle, 28, is now going through extra costs of tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon and battery, stated Jimmy Lee, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Workplace of the Sheriff.
His protection lawyer, Matt Fregi, stated he harbored “no in poor health will towards” his shopper, who had already cycled by means of a number of attorneys earlier than him.
“Nothing severe,” he stated of his accidents. “Everybody thought it was much more severe than what it was.”
Randle is accused of working with Christopher Slaughter to trace 24-year-old Jonaye Lahkel Bridges with a GPS hooked up to her automotive in July 2020. Bridges and Randle had been embroiled in a bitter youngster custody battle. Prosecutors stated Randle adopted her to a 7-Eleven in Antioch and fired into her automotive, the place she was sitting with one other man. The person was hit by gunfire however survived. Bridges was killed.
Slaughter, who was a co-defendant within the case, earlier took a plea deal.
Outbursts in Randle’s case are nothing new, and this fracas raises questions on whether or not Superior Court docket Choose John W. Kennedy, who’s presiding over the case, will declare a mistrial.
In 2022, a earlier choose declared a mistrial after Randle, who had been representing himself, unleashed what the Bay Space Information Group described as “chaotic, profanity-ridden pandemonium.” He cycled by means of a number of attorneys after dropping his proper to signify himself, together with one whom the outlet stated he “took a swing at” in open court docket final 12 months.
On Monday, the attorneys at A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez had hoped the case can be coming to an in depth. Jurors had been listening to the protection’s ultimate witness, Randle’s brother, round 11 a.m. when, in keeping with a supply on the scene, Randle jammed the pen into Fregi’s head and once more close to his jaw. He then headed towards Deputy Dist. Atty. Kevin Bell, who had been standing close to the jury field. However he by no means reached him.
“The courtroom was instantly cleared,” sheriff’s spokesperson Lee stated. “The Hearth Division responded to evaluate each of the attorneys, who refused medical consideration.”
Bell is “positive,” having solely a scratch on his finger, stated Ted Asregadoo, a spokesperson for the Contra Costa County district lawyer. The case will resume Tuesday.
“We hopefully determine to forge forward,” Fregi stated.
