Posted on 02/07/2008 7:49:44 AM PST by SmithL
GEORGETOWN, Ky.—A public defender who was punched in court by a disgruntled client said Thursday he doesn't blame the man who gave him with two black eyes.
The disorder in the court, captured on video, happened Monday at Scott County Circuit Court after the judge refused defendant Peter Hafer's request for a new attorney.
Hafer, 30, of Cynthiana, told the judge he didn't trust his court-appointed lawyer, Doug Crickmer. As Crickmer began to tell Judge Rob Johnson that Hafer couldn't choose his public defender, Hafer landed the first punch.
"I just couldn't take it anymore and I just snapped," Hafer said later at the Scott County jail.
Hafer hit the attorney several times in the face and stomach. Hafer was restrained on the ground. Crickmer was admitted to Georgetown Community Hospital and released later that day. He said he will not file assault charges.
"I certainly don't fault him or blame him or wish him any ill will," Crickmer said Thursday on NBC's "Today" show. "I think Mr. Hafer was just frustrated. Like I said, he had been in jail for some time. ... I think he just got frustrated, fed up, and he just snapped and I was the nearest target."
Hafer was arrested in August on charges of burglarizing a K-Mart store in June.
As for his request for a new attorney, Hafer apparently will get his way. Authorities said a new one will be appointed.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
Who says there are no happy stories in the news anymore.
A liberal lawyer with 2 black eyes forced by political correcteness to say he deserved to get hit by his sociopath client. Hit him again!
Idiot mushy minded lawyer. So it is the court's or jail's fault that this guy attacked you? Which is precisely why people like that are willing to go at people like him. Hafer needed a sound thrashing so he would know not to act in such a way.
Maybe the guy is just afraid that Hafer will get out some day and doesn't to give him a reason to come looking for him. Well, my addage for such possibilities has always been that that is why I have a 12 gauge shotgun waiting for such individuals.
I had a lawyer once tell me: it’s amazing that people spend so much time eff-ing up their own lives, and then expect a lawyer to fix things in an hour (and cheaply to boot). In any case, good luck with your divorce.
People are getting more and more out of control.
Can’t wait to see if McCain who has a temper problem gets the nomination.
We won’t be voting for him ... .
Interesting you would say that. What if the lawyer is arguing his client has been held for an unreasonable amount of time? He just got to repeat his argument on the "Today" show. Who's the idiot?
For the most part, lawyers are bloodsucking bottomfeeders. When I read a story like this, I can’t help but feel that the little guy has at least in part triumphed over the suits who have meticulously designed a system to make themselves rich and powerful and leave the rest of us shaking in our boots at the lopsided legal system.
“The Devil’s Advocate” is NOT a work of fiction.
Alriiiight! Finally something decent happens in the courts! ;)
Nothing. he already told him. Twice.
LOL!!
Mushy minded to blaim his client’s attack on him, on someone other than his client. I will not speak to how long the guy had been held...that may or may not be a seperate issue. But if the guy beat up his own lawyer in court because he had had enough, that is the prisoner’s fault...no one else’s and will most probably result in an even longer stay.
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