DETROIT, Mich, U.S.A. - Court cameras have captured the
moment the bereaved father of a three-year-old girl attacks the man responsible
for killing her - punching him in the head.
The incident happened during the sentencing of Jasmine
Gordon and her boyfriend Clifford Thomas, who were both convicted in the death
of Gordon’s three - year-old
daughter Jamila Smith, the Detroit
Free Press reported.
daughter Jamila Smith, the Detroit
Free Press reported.
- The girl’s father, Dwayne Smith, was set to deliver a speech to the court about the impact his daughter’s death had on him.
- Instead, he came face to face with Thomas and attacked him, punching him in the head. The wild scenes were caught on video
- Officers from Wayne County Sheriff’s Office quickly separated the pair as loud yelling erupted in the courtroom.
- In the video, Gordon can be seen crying and yelling “Jesus” as her lawyer, John McWilliams, tries to console her.
- “It was pretty scary, I’m glad nobody was seriously hurt”,Mr McWilliams said.
- Jamila Smith died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries in September last year. Her death was ruled a homicide.
- Both Gordon and Thomas were convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month.
- Smith was not allowed to return to the courtroom but managed to avoid being charged over the incident.
- “No charges were pursued against those involved as the judge declined to hold Dwayne Smith in contempt of court,” a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told the newspaper.
- “Clifford Thomas refused prosecution of Smith.”
Jasmine Gordon was sentenced to between seven to fifteen years for
involuntary manslaughter and fourteen to twenty-five for child abuse.
Clifford Thomas was sentenced to about six years to fifteen years for
involuntary manslaughter and one to two years for resisting and obstructing a
police officer.
Source: The Independent
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