Man Killed After Attacking Judge At Trial

**Captain America** · 03-05-09, 01:44 PM

By TRACIE CONE and GARANCE BURKE, AP
posted: 4 HOURS 14 MINUTES AGOcomments: CrimeNews, FRESNO, Calif. (March 5) - A man accused of killing his girlfriend was shot to death in a Stockton courtroom Wednesday after he attacked the judge presiding over his murder trial, officials said.Suspect Killed in Court After Attacking JudgeA man accused of killing his girlfriend was shot to death in a Stockton, California courtroom Wednesday after he attacked the judge presiding over his murder trial, officials said. David Paradiso, 28, was shot by a police detective after he left the witness stand and began attacking San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Cinda Fox during a break in proceedings, said Dave Konecny, a spokesman for the sheriff's department.Paradiso took the stand to testify around 2 p.m. and was quickly asked by prosecutors why he killed his girlfriend Eileen Pelt.He responded: "Cause she deserved to die."Paradiso's mother, Debra, stood up and started yelling, leading the judge to call a recess. As jurors filed out, Paradiso left the stand and approached the judge from behind "with an unknown cutting instrument," Konecny said.Karen McConnell, a county spokeswoman, said witnesses reported seeing Paradiso lift the judge and begin punching and possibly stabbing her when bailiffs ran to her aid and shots rang out. Lodi Police Det. Eric Bradley has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is being investigated, city spokesman Jeff Hood said."He was going after her jugular, just as he did to the victim in this case," his attorney, Chuck Pacheco, told the Lodi News-Sentinel. "He was not stopping stabbing her, going for her neck. Bradley did the right thing."

Did I read that correctly. Did a defense attorney just admit that a cop did the right thing?

**MacLean** · 03-05-09, 01:49 PM

Some of them are more human than you suspect, and I've met a bunch that were terrified of their clients.

**Hondo** · 03-05-09, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by

[COLOR="Red"

Did I read that correctly. Did a defensive attorney just admit that a cop did the right thing?[/COLOR]

+1000 Of course that is before he files the wrongfull death and excessive force lawsuit against the Detective, the county, and the court system.

**pgg** · 03-05-09, 02:31 PM

Things like this demonstrate the need for LE to be armed in the courtroom. The Judges here make up the rules. They have decided that the only people allowed to be armed in court are the on duty bailiffs, no one else. Everyone else must leave their guns in the car.

**Morris** · 03-05-09, 04:07 PM

Yeah, a certain judge tried to impose that at a district court a few years back (early in my career). When officers refused to show to court for cases and the choas that began, he was roundly smacked down by a presiding judge and that silliness went away.

Did you also read where the family defended this scrotebag, particulaly because the meth made him do it? Sheesh, society is rapidly dying.

**ex401mp** · 03-05-09, 04:57 PM

We cant carry guns in our court rooms here either. We have one off duty detail at the entrance that remains armed and the bailiffs here remained armed (unless they are going into and out of the courthouse holding cell. Of course there are probably some that carry their back ups concealed anyway.

**Retdetsgt** · 03-05-09, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by ex401mp

We cant carry guns in our court rooms here either. We have one off duty detail at the entrance that remains armed and the bailiffs here remained armed (unless they are going into and out of the courthouse holding cell. Of course there are probably some that carry their back ups concealed anyway.

We used to have that policy.

One day years ago, I was in court, sitting in an aisle seat when some guy walked by me and I saw a gun butt under his jacket. He was wearing it in a cross draw fashion on the left side of the front of this pants.

I didn't recognize him as a cop, but I thought he might be from another jurisdiction who was subpeanoed and didn't know the court rules.

Then he was called as a defendant in a CCW case. He stood up before the judge, I walked up behind him, put my arm around his throat and pulled out the gun. The judge's eyes got big as saucers!

Another couple of cops in the courtroom helped me cuff him.

About two weeks later, the no guns for police was gone.....

**Cidp24** · 03-05-09, 05:38 PM

We used to have a couple of judges that had that rule. I never understood why. Does anyone know? Is it tradition? "Respect" for the courts?

**Retdetsgt** · 03-05-09, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

We used to have a couple of judges that had that rule. I never understood why. Does anyone know? Is it tradition? "Respect" for the courts?

Left wing judges?

**Captain America** · 03-05-09, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Some of them are more human than you suspect, and I've met a bunch that were terrified of their clients.

I have met a few defense lawyers that I actually liked and respected , Mac , but it's been my experience through the years that for the most part defense lawyers are just that for a reason and they deserve to be defense lawyers.

**Captain America** · 03-05-09, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

Left wing judges?

That or they heard about some instance where a suspect disarmed or attempted to disarm a cop in court so they worry about the threat they can see.

**Second Chance** · 03-05-09, 07:50 PM

We all armed here.

**Jenna** · 03-05-09, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

Then he was called as a defendant in a CCW case. He stood up before the judge, I walked up behind him, put my arm around his throat and pulled out the gun. The judge's eyes got big as saucers!

It was brave of you to do that while unarmed.

Glad the judges let the sheepdogs bring their guns after that!

**Cidp24** · 03-05-09, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Captain America

That or they heard about some instance where a suspect disarmed or attempted to disarm a cop in court so they worry about the threat they can see.

Well, it was pretty common here years ago but it has gone by the wayside. I can remember having to ask if a judge allowed guns in his/her courtroom but I have not seen one that objected in a long time here. Surprising enough, one of the most adamant ones, a County Judge that used to throw a fit if an officer tried to wear a gun in court, wont even bat an eye now.

I just don't see the "disarm a cop" thing. If that was the case, the bailiff is usually much closer to the defendant and HE should not be armed but the officers in the courtroom should be.

**Retdetsgt** · 03-06-09, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by Jenna

It was brave of you to do that while unarmed.

Glad the judges let the sheepdogs bring their guns after that!

Not really brave, I was afraid I might be next after he shot the judge! Turned out the gun was unloaded, he was planning to pull it out and make some 2nd Amendment statement. I knew there were several other cops in the courtroom. And it was easier to do it when he still had the gun in his belt.....

**TXCharlie** · 03-06-09, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

he was planning to pull it out and make some 2nd Amendment statement

...Right before being shot by every bailiff in the court room

You probably saved the dumb-ass's life.

**Norm357** · 03-06-09, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

We used to have that policy.

One day years ago, I was in court, sitting in an aisle seat when some guy walked by me and I saw a gun butt under his jacket. He was wearing it in a cross draw fashion on the left side of the front of this pants.

I didn't recognize him as a cop, but I thought he might be from another jurisdiction who was subpeanoed and didn't know the court rules.

Then he was called as a defendant in a CCW case. He stood up before the judge, I walked up behind him, put my arm around his throat and pulled out the gun. The judge's eyes got big as saucers!

Another couple of cops in the courtroom helped me cuff him.

About two weeks later, the no guns for police was gone.....

You are one cool cat daddio.

BTW, here in Clayton County GA, all but a few Judges carry, and there is no, no guns for cops rule in the courthouse.

**Retdetsgt** · 03-06-09, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

...Right before being shot by every bailiff in the court room

You probably saved the dumb-ass's life.

Not very quickly. No one was supposed to be armed in the courtrooms.... We don't have armed bailiffs here. Now everyone but police officers have to go through a metal detector to enter the courthouse. Then I guess the judges thought they were so powerful that everyone would comply....

I can tell ya, that rule kept me from wearing a uniform to court. If I was going to unarmed in a room full of crooks, I'd rather not make it obvious who I am until I absolutely have to. The dumbest looking thing in the world to me is a police officer walking around with an empty holster.

I'm glad that this was an era when we were trained to be physical and weren't used to relying on three or four non-lethal weapons to subdue people. The only reason I went after the guy instead of half a dozen other cops was that I was the only one who saw the gun when he came in.

I was a bit annoyed at the judge. He called me into chambers and was all grateful and that. But when I asked him if I could have this guy's new Colt Python and let him burn my old S&W Model 15, he wouldn't do it..... Damn.....