Witness attacks defendant in open court; see video of the altercation
In a Hamilton County, Tennessee, courtroom on Aug. 18, a preliminary hearing erupted into violence when one inmate was asked to testify against another.
The witness, Antwon Lee, 25, survived a July 29 knife attack allegedly committed by Eric McCullough, 46, in Chattanooga. McCullough had allegedly attacked both Lee and McCullough’s niece, Tyecha McCullough, 23, who did not survive, according to Nooga.com and the Times Free Press. Lee is currently in custody on a charge of violating the sex offender registry, according to the Times Free Press. When Lee was called to the stand on Tuesday he stepped forward toward McCullough and began hitting him in the head, authorities said.
A YouTube video of the incident shows multiple sheriff’s deputies swarming Lee and putting him on the courtroom floor, holding back McCullough, who was still on his feet, and pushing several court spectators, who also were on their feet, farther back from the action.
The preliminary hearing will be completed at a later date. General Sessions Court Judge Gary Starnes said it might need to be held in a closed courtroom, reports the Chattanoogan.
County Commissioner Greg Beck praised law enforcement for its response to the incident and suggested that more arraignments need to be conducted via video camera, the article continues.
“It not only put our officers at jeopardy, but it happened within a few feet of the judge and put the judge at jeopardy,” Beck said. “The judges were alarmed about this incident, and the female judges were really alarmed.”
