EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Witnesses say a man accused of stabbing two defense lawyers in their necks with pencils grabbed a pen and stabbed his latest lawyer in the side of the head as jurors listened to opening statements in the defendant’s trial on a felony drug charge.
The Daily Herald reports (http://bit.ly/sjAeba ) that a police officer waiting to testify Tuesday grabbed 28-year-old Joshua Monson and wrestled him to the ground.
Monson was also shocked with an electronic stun device that he was wearing under court order.
The unidentified lawyer suffered a small wound.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge David Kurtz then ruled that Monson’s behavior constituted a waiver of his right to legal counsel. The judge said he’d instruct jurors to disregard what they saw Tuesday. He says the drug trial will proceed with Monson representing himself.
