Accused murderer attacks his own attorney with pen while in court

(KRON) — Monday, a defendant accused of murder attacked his attorney while in court, Contra Costa County court officials confirmed to KRON4.

Defendant Ramello Randle attacked his attorney Matthew Fregi and “struck him in the neck,” officials said. Court security was able to take control of the situation.

Randle is in court on murder charges for allegedly killing is ex-girlfriend during a child custody dispute. Randle was arrested in 2020 after police found 24-year-old Jonaye Bridges shot to death in the head while sitting in a car, the San Francisco Chronicle previously reported. Bridges and Randle shared custody of their infant son at the time.

Monday’s outburst was apparently not Randle’s first. Randle yelled expletives at the defense attorney DDA Kevin Bell and Judge Charles “Ben” Burch during a previous court appearance in 2022 during which he was representing himself, the East Bay Times previously reported. The judge declared a mistrial and Fregi became Randle’s attorney. Randle also tried to attack another attorney Lawrence Strauss during a court appearance in 2023, EBT reported.

There were no significant injuries from Monday’s incident, court officials said. The case is set to continue as usual on Tuesday at 1:35 p.m.