Three people charged the defendant in a murder trial in New Mexico, causing a fight with flying punches and kicks in the courtroom.
The courtroom cameras captured the melee on Jan. 31, which led to felony charges being filed against two men. They allegedly rushed the defendant out of anger over the death of a family member.
Both men were charged with battery and assault against a public officer. As a police officer used a stun gun to stop the fighting, he cordoned off the defendant.
Albuquerque’s KRQE TV reported that a woman was also arrested for the same charges. In the courtroom, she was seen hitting both the defendant and a police officer with a chair.
The presence of corrections officers and other security details in courtrooms doesn’t always keep the peace. Last year, a defendant in a felony battery case in Nevada flung himself over a judge’s bench and grabbed her hair, sparking a bloody brawl with court officials.
Katina Watson is the court executive officer for New Mexico’s Second Judicial District. She told KRQE, “These are things we see regularly.”
She praised an officer for reacting to ensure safety, without mention of potential security enhancements.
