Witness attacked by defendant during Beaumont trial

May 4, 2004, 4:59PM
Witness attacked by defendant during Beaumont trial
Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2549332


BEAUMONT -- The defendant in an aggravated robbery case attacked a witness as she left the stand in a Beaumont courtroom today, a prosecutor said.

Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness said that as the witness left the stand, Kiheem Grant grabbed her and started hitting her in the head. Maness said bailiffs in the courtroom quickly separated Grant from the witness, who suffered minor injuries.

"He did it in front of the jury, so we have 12 fine witnesses and a judge," Maness said.

*SNIP*

The jury later convicted Grant, 29, of aggravated robbery. Grant also faces charges for two other robberies and is accused of murder. Maness said Grant would face an additional charge of retaliation.

of things NOT to do in court...

If the jury was inclined to believe him before that incident, him bashing the witness in the head probably changed their opinion.

Should your actions in the court during the trial have any bearing on the outcome of the trial?

I'm interested, but unfortunately not learned on such issues.

If the defense was trying to paint the defendant as an All-American, churchgoing, upstanding member of the community who would never, ever commit a crime, then, yes, I think his obvious behavior in court should be taken into account. If theguy can't control himself enough in a courtroom, then should they really expect that he's a good guy outside of it?

Your actions in court reflect on your credibility as a witness and as a defendant. It's entirely appropriate for a jury to consider in-court behavior by a defendant, ESPECIALLY when it's of a bizarre nature.