Defendant who leapt at judge over court bench in Las Vegas attack faces seven new charges
A defendant who launched an astonishing attack on a judge in Las Vegas before becoming embroiled in a mass brawl with staff is facing seven new charges.
Deobra Delone Redden, 30, was wrestled to the floor by several court and jail officers and courtroom staff members after he leapt over a court bench and landed on top of Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus.
She had just made it clear she intended to put him behind bars over a previous attempted assault.
Judge Mary Kay Holthus fell back from her seat against a wall. Pic: AP
As the court officer moved to handcuff him, Redden yelled expletives, charged forward and leapt over the judge’s bench.
During the incident on Wednesday, Judge Holthus fell back from her seat against a wall and suffered some injuries, but was not hospitalised.
She returned to work on Thursday and Redden will face her again on Monday morning for his rescheduled sentencing, according to Chief Judge Jerry Wiese.
Redden was jailed on $54,000 bail in connection with the attack but refused to return to court on Thursday on the new charges.
Deobra Delone Redden, 30, in court moments before the attack. Pic: AP
Records show that he now faces 13 charges in total, including extortion and coercion with force.
Seven of the new counts are battery on a protected person, referring to the judge and officers who came to her aid.
At a news conference, Judge Wiese shared a statement from Judge Holthus.
“She wanted me to thank all of the well-wishers and others who have expressed concern for her and her staff,” he said.
“She is extremely grateful for those who took brave action during the attack.”
Redden had to be wrestled off the judge by her law clerk, Michael Lasso, and several court and jail officers – including some who were seen throwing punches.
One court official was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining a gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to officials and witnesses.
Judge Wiese credited Lasso for his quick action, saying he was the “primary person” who pulled the defendant off the judge “and probably kept her from having more severe injuries”.
Read more:
Body found in San Diego freezer may be that of woman missing for nine years
Student armed with shotgun kills child and injures five others in Iowa
Redden was initially in court over allegations he attacked a person with a baseball bat last year.
Shortly before the courtroom attack, Redden had asked the judge for leniency in her sentencing, describing himself as “a person who never stops trying to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is”.
“I’m not a rebellious person,” he told the judge, later adding that he did not think he should be sent to prison.
“But if it’s appropriate for you, then you have to do what you have to do,” he added.
Redden’s defence lawyer, Caesar Almase, has declined to comment since the incident.
Donald Trump has ambushed South Africa’s president during a White House meeting by playing a video purportedly showing evidence of a “genocide” of white people in the African country.
The US president, who was hosting leader Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, said the footage showed the graves of thousands of white farmers.
Mr Ramaphosa sat quietly and mostly expressionless while a montage of videos was played, and he later said: “I’d like to know where that is because this [the videos] I’ve never seen”.
The lights had been dimmed in the room as videos were shown, including of South African officials allegedly calling for violence against white farmers.
South Africa has rejected the allegation that white people are disproportionately targeted by crime.
The videos include one of a communist politician playing a controversial anti-apartheid song that includes lyrics about killing a farmer.
Mr Trump accused South Africa of failing to address the killing of white farmers. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” the US president said. “Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they’re being killed.”
Alluding to people in the videos, Mr Trump said: “These are people that are officials and they’re saying… kill the white farmer and take their land.”
Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump in the Oval Office today
The US president then displayed printed copies of articles that he said showed white South Africans who had been killed, saying “death, death” as he flipped through them.
He added of one article: “Here’s burial sites all over the place, these are all white farmers that are being buried.”
South African leader rejects allegations
Mr Ramaphosa pushed back against Mr Trump’s accusations, by responding: “What you saw, the speeches that were being made, that is not government policy. We have a multi-party democracy in South Africa that allows people to express themselves, political parties to adhere to various policies.
“And in many cases or in some cases, those policies do not go along with government policy.
“Our government policy is completely, completely against what he [a person in the video montage] was saying. Even in the parliament. And they are a small minority party which is allowed to exist in terms of our constitution.”
Mr Ramaphosa also said of the behaviour alleged by Mr Trump: “We are completely opposed to that.”
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Mr Ramaphosa said there was crime in South Africa, and the majority of victims were black. Mr Trump cut him off and said: “The farmers are not black.” The South African president responded: “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.”
Mr Trump has cancelled aid, expelled South Africa’s ambassador and offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners based on racial discrimination claims which Pretoria says are unfounded.
Experts in South Africa say there is no evidence of white people being targeted, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country that suffers from a very high crime rate.
Universal has opened a new theme park to rival Disney World in Florida.
NBCUniversal owner Comcast, which also owns Sky News, is rewriting the Orlando travel itinerary with its $7bn Epic Universe.
The 750-acre park features five worlds themed around movie and game franchises NBCUniversal owns or licenses.
These include Super Nintendo World, complete with a Mario Kart ride, and the immersive Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Pic: Reuters
Fans pose for pictures in Super Nintendo World. Pic: Reuters
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Celestial Park and Dark Universe complete the park.
The project is the first major theme park to open in the US in more than 20 years and marks Comcast’s largest investment in Universal attractions since it gained control of the business in 2011.
People riding the Dragon’s Racers Rally rollercoaster. Pic: Reuters
Comcast president Mike Cavanaugh said: “This is the one part of the media ecosystem that is not vulnerable to screen-shifting. It’s still beloved as a thing to do with friends and family.
“It would be silly not to be stepping on the gas.”
The sprawling park covers 750 acres. Pic: Reuters
Epic Universe could attract 9.5 million visitors and bring in more than $1.3bn in revenue in 2026, analyst Craig Moffett has predicted.
Another new Universal theme park is also in the pipeline, with the company set to open its first European resort in 2031.
More from Sky News:
New Princess Kate waxwork unveiled
Sesame Street finds new home
The park will be in Bedfordshire and is expected to become the UK’s most popular visitor attraction.
The UK government has said it will bring in an estimated £50bn to the British economy and create around 28,000 jobs.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway