An Oakland, California murder suspect is facing additional charges after a shocking incident in a courtroom on Monday morning. The suspect, 28-year-old Ramello Randle, was attending his homicide trial at the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez, California when he attacked his attorney and then turned his aggression towards the district attorney.
Randle, who is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in July 2020, managed to free himself from restraints in the courtroom. He then used a pen to stab his defense lawyer in the face and head before attempting to attack Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell, who was able to defend himself.
The incident unfolded in front of a Contra Costa jury, who are tasked with determining Randle's guilt in the murder case. Randle and another individual allegedly conspired to kill the mother of Randle's child, resulting in a fatal shooting in July 2020.
This was not the first time Randle's behavior disrupted court proceedings. A previous trial was declared a mistrial in November 2022 after Randle verbally lashed out at the district attorney and the judge. Despite this, Randle continued to exhibit violent behavior, leading to his current attorney, Matthew Fregi, taking over the case.
Following Monday's incident, the courtroom was cleared, and both attorneys were assessed by the fire department, although they declined medical attention. The trial is set to resume on Tuesday under the supervision of Judge John Kennedy, who will be examining how courts handle instances of violence in the courtroom.
