Public Defenders
Defendant Accused of Assaulting Police Dog Smacks Lawyer in Court
A New Jersey man accused of assaulting a civilian, a police officer and a police dog attacked his lawyer twice in the courtroom on Tuesday.
The defendant, Anthony Montgomery, smacked Deputy Assistant Public Defender Philip Pagano in the face and later flung a microphone at the lawyer, according to APP.com and the Associated Press.
“Pagano appeared stunned but unscathed,” APP.com says.
The first attack occurred in front of jurors, but Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson of Toms River refused Pagano’s request for a mistrial. In closing arguments, Pagano told jurors they had to decide the case on facts, rather than emotions.
