dec 12, 1977 - Fight Interrupts in courtroom

Description:

Two distinctly different versions of the incident emerged with aitomeys for Paul Skyhorse calling it an "unprovoked attack" on him and the Sherriff's Department saying Nick Ortega had to subdue Skyhorse after being “kneed in the groin" by him.

Defense attorney Franklin (Skip) Glenn. at a hastily called news conference at the Criminal Courts Building, said:

‘It was an unprovoked attack, but the triggering factor was apparently something to do with either dropping or not dropping the waist chain to which the handcuffs are attached when they're transported."

According to the defense attorney.
Skyhorse suffered a large bump on his head and a six-inch-long contusion on his ribs and severe bruises on his wrists.

Glenn also said that Skyhorse, whose glasses reportedly were broken in the fracas, was ‘disoriented’ following the incident.

About the same time, the news conference was being held. the Sheriff's Department issued a press release saying Skyhorse had ‘viciously at-
tack " Ortega as the deputy was removing the defendant's handcuff.

The press release stated the brief battle that followed left Skyhorse with a “small bump) over his left eye and scratch on the ridge of his nose" but he refused medical treatment.

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