[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Hi, everyone, I'm dan abrams, and this is "courtcam."
- You ready to take your plea?
[indistinct yelling]
- Don't run. - [bleep]
- [screams] you!
♪ ♪
- I'm killin' all you [bleep].
- I hope you die in prison as well.
[digital whirring]
[dramatic music]
- First up, we head to louisville, kentucky,
For a contempt of court hearing.
The defendant's suzanne craft,
Who's in court for allegedly violating a no-contact order
Against her neighbors, michella and connie pineda.
A month earlier, the 52-year-old was charged
With harassment and criminal mischief
After allegedly writing a number of racial slurs
On the pineda driveway.
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Here you can see the perpetrator
With what appears to be spray paint...
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Then walking back to the craft property.
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Craft is released on bond and ordered to stay away
From the pineda home, which is two doors down from her own.
But when security cameras captured a woman
Pouring chemicals in the shape of a swastika
Onto the pineda property,
Craft was called back into court.
- I'm not saying that you've had contact.
I'm--I just know there's an allegation.
But what I'm telling you is, if they can prove it,
Then you could very well end up back in jail.
♪ ♪
- The judge listens to testimony before deciding
If the defendant violated the no-contact order.
First she hears from craft,
Who addresses the new allegations.
- Yes, I'm innocent.
- No.
- The judge also hears
From witnesses familiar with craft,
Who have different opinions on the identity of the person
In the surveillance footage.
- For some witnesses, the deciding factor
On whether it's craft in the footage is how she walks.
- Craft's attorney vehemently argues his client
Is not responsible for the swastika.
- That's not her!
- Finally, after hearing the testimony,
It's time for the judge to decide whether craft
Will walk out the door or straight into jail.
♪ ♪
- I believe it was her.
I don't understand why she would, but--
Knowing that there are cameras, but I believe she did it.
It makes no sense to me any other way.
♪ ♪
- Craft is sentenced to seven days in jail
And seven days of house arrest.
Since the ruling, the pinedas have received
Multiple death threats as well as bullets through the mail.
The couple has filed a lawsuit against craft
And the subdivision's home owner's association,
Claiming they were victims of a hate crime.
As for craft, she pled not guilty
To the criminal mischief and harassment charges
And is awaiting trial.
♪ ♪
[dramatic musical flourish]
- "it felt good to shoot him."
Those words came out of this defendant's mouth.
- We're in san antonio, texas, for the trial of otis mckane.
[dramatic music]
The 31-year-old was charged with capital murder
Following a brazen attack on a police officer.
♪ ♪
This surveillance video shows the moment a man
Approached the parked cruiser of san antonio
Police detective, benjamin marconi.
- Detective marconi was driving
A marked sapd police car.
He was wearing his police uniform.
And he had made a traffic stop
In front of police headquarters.
At this time, while he was sitting in his car,
This defendant came up from behind him
And shot him twice in the head.
Detective marconi never even saw it coming.
- Police have surveillance footage
Of someone matching mckane's description
Entering the police station the morning of the attack.
The person in the video reportedly asked
To talk to someone about child custody issues,
But quickly left after being told it would be a while
Before an officer would be available.
Police released that security footage to the public,
And after a tip from an employee
Of a local auto shop...
♪ ♪
Mckane was captured and arrested the next day,
Following a multi-agency manhunt.
During a police interview, mckane had stated
He committed the crime out of anger and frustration
For not being able to see his son.
- Despite having admitted to the act on video
During a police interrogation, mckane pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, his defense team argued
The crime did not rise to the level of capital murder,
Alleging that officer marconi was not doing
Official police work at the time he was killed.
Now after an 11-day trial,
Mckane is about to learn his fate.
- Verdict form, we, the jury, find the defendant,
Otis tyrone mckane, guilty of the offense of capital murder
As charged in the indictment.
♪ ♪
- But as the jury is dismissed,
Mckane has an unusual reaction.
He unbuttons then untucks his shirt,
Before sitting down.
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Then when asked to stand up by deputy isidro gonzalez,
At first he refuses.
Then as he slowly stands up...
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Delivers a blow to gonzalez.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
When deputy gonzalez prepared to place him in cuffs,
Mckane cocks his arm back and then slams his elbow
In the unsuspecting officer's face.
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Mckane is then quickly tackled and subdued
By multiple deputies just outside the courtroom.
♪ ♪
Deputy gonzalez returned to the courtroom
A short time later, appearing to be okay.
Mckane was charged with assault on a peace officer
For striking a deputy.
The charge pales in comparison
To the ultimate outcome in the case.
The following week,
Otis mckane was sentenced to death
For the murder of detective benjamin marconi.
♪ ♪
[dramatic musical flourish]
- Next we're in el cajon, california
For the trial of kassim alhimidi
Who's been charged with the first-degree murder
Of his wife, shaima alawadi.
[dramatic music]
Two years earlier, the couple's then 15-year-old
Daughter discovered her mother badly beaten,
But still alive, inside the family home.
- As I remember, she was on her--
Kind of, like, on her side.
Her face was on-- face to the ground.
And her-- the blood was in her face.
- The courtroom camera was not allowed to show
The witness' face due to her age and privacy concerns.
- I heard the ambulance from, like, across the street,
And I just-- I put my mom down,
And I ran to the street.
I'm like, "please, just come in and get her."
- The victim was rushed to the hospital,
But died days later after being taken off life support.
The death tore the family apart.
Despite his sister's powerful testimony,
The victim's son believed his father's alibi.
♪ ♪
Kassim alhimidi claimed he was driving many miles away
From the family home when his wife was attacked.
But cell tower data placed his phone near the home
At the time of the murder.
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During this early hearing, alhimidi's own daughter
Refused to look at him from the witness stand.
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- Alhimidi maintained his innocence
Throughout the trial, as his attorney painted him
As a loving father and husband who was devastated
When he had to take his wife off life support.
- And he said, "take my brain.
"take my brain and implant it in her.
"I'll pay you any amount of money.
Save her life."
♪ ♪
- The prosecution, however,
Claims it was not such a happy marriage,
And alhimidi was upset
That his wife was planning on filing for divorce.
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- But with the absence of a murder weapon
Or any dna evidence linking alhimidi,
It's hardly an open and shut case for prosecutors.
- California, plaintiff, versus kassim alhimidi, defendant.
♪ ♪
Guilty of the crime of murder.
- After hearing the guilty verdict via translator,
Alhimidi has a delayed reaction.
First, an unnerving smile.
Then a hand gesture likely directed
At the judge and jury.
And finally, he appears to pray.
But alhimidi isn't the only one
With a strong reaction to the verdict.
From the gallery, his son cries out in his defense.
- That's bull[bleep]. [bleep]!
- And has to be restrained by deputies.
- [bleep]! [indistinct yelling]
- His father then yells out in arabic.
- Meanwhile, it appears a woman in the gallery
Is praying as both alhimidi and his son are restrained
And removed from the courtroom.
[indistinct commotion]
Kassim alhimidi was later sentenced
To 26 years to life in prison
For the murder of his wife, shaima alawadi.
[dramatic musical flourish]
Next, we go to the miami dade courthouse,
Where judge catherine pooler's presiding over a bond hearing.
The defendant, calvin lloyd griffith,
Allegedly broke into a local school
And stole an employee's car.
Griffith was arrested and is here on charges
Of grand theft, burglary, and trespassing.
He also violated his probation from a previous car theft.
- Calvin lloyd griffith, jr. On page 12.
- Whoo! [indistinct]
- Good morning. Mr. Griffith is charged
With burglary, petty theft, grand theft of a vehicle,
And trespass, and he's on probation.
- Okay.
♪ ♪
I smoke weed and cocaine.
- The court officials decide to cut griffith's mic off
To prevent him from talking over everyone.
- So the officers were-- [inaudible]
- Okay. You're calvin griffith?
[inaudible]
- Mr. Tetnor has the button pressed.
- Oh, okay.
- As judge pooler continues looking over the paperwork,
Griffith continues to try to get the attention
Of the judge.
- Okay, let's see.
- But with judge pooler unable to hear griffith,
He decides to try a different approach.
[hip-hop music]
[laughter]
- [laughing] your honor.
[inaudible]
♪ ♪
[laughter]
[laughing] your honor.
- Not impressed with griffith's twerking abilities,
The judge moves on with the case.
- The state is requesting that your honor set the bond,
But reset the case in division tomorrow,
Because his actions violate his probation.
- Judge pooler agrees with the state attorney
And sets griffith's bond at $18,500.
- And there's a stay-away order from miami edison senior high.
If you should get out, do not go back there.
You're not a student anymore.
Okay? Thank you for coming in.
- As the judge moves on to the next,
Less entertaining, defendant, judge pooler looks back fondly
On her time with calvin griffith.
- I want that last guy to come back and teach us how to dance.
[laughter]
♪ ♪
He was a pretty smooth guy.
♪ ♪
[dramatic music]
- Next, we go to a hearing in breckinridge county,
Kentucky, where the defendant is not typically
The one standing before the judge.
The accused is todd pate,
The former sheriff of breckinridge county.
He's charged with assault,
Operating under the influence--his second offense,
Criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident.
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A year earlier, while driving his personal vehicle,
Pate allegedly caused a crash, injuring four people.
He then left the scene.
When he was arrested later that night,
His blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
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Pate was released on bond
And later retired from the sheriff's office.
Today, the 51-year-old's in court to change his plea
From not guilty to guilty,
A decision he's already agreed to in writing.
This will allow him to serve just 75 days in jail
Versus a possible sentence of up to 15 years
If he went to trial and was found guilty of all charges.
To make it official, all he has to do is say the words
To judge janet crocker.
- At this time, is it your desire to change your plea
From not guilty to guilty?
- Do I have to answer that yes or no?
Or can I make somewhat of a statement--
- That is--that is a yes or no answer, sir.
♪ ♪
- Will I have the opportunity to say anything further?
- If it is your intention to change your plea
From not guilty to guilty, certainly,
You'll have an opportunity to make any statement,
But if it not your intent to enter a guilty plea
At this time, then I'm gonna set your case for jury trial,
And you're gonna stop wasting my time
And everybody else's time this afternoon.
- Ma'am, I'm not trying to waste your time.
- Then, is it your intention to enter a guilty plea
At this time or not, sir?
- No.
Why am I wasting your time, ma'am?
- Mr. Chambers.
- The judge ignores the question
And checks in with the prosecution.
- Why am I wasting your time, ma'am?
- Mr. Chambers, what is the commonwealth's
Position at this time, sir?
- The judge orders a brief recess,
Perhaps hoping pate's attorney can remind him
He's already agreed to plead guilty.
♪ ♪
Back in court, the judge tries again.
- Let's get back on the record
And see if we can sort this out.
At this point in time, what is mr. Pate's decision
With respect to his guilty pleas?
- I believe I'll just let him answer that question,
If it please the court.
- All right. So, uh, mr. Pate?
- Can I say a few things, or?
- Um, uh... - Ah.
- I need to understand what it is
That we're doing here today, mr. Pate.
- Yes, I had every intention of coming in here today
And entering a guilty plea.
It's difficult for me to enter a guilty plea
For a lot of reasons, and I don't want this court
To think that I am trying to minimize any responsibility
That I had in this situation that occurred.
- The problem is pate doesn't agree with the assault charge
And believes the prosecutor only added it
Because of pate's position as sheriff
And because pate rejected an earlier plea deal.
- I feel like I'm being very much bullied
Into doing something that's not right.
Now I want this court to know that todd pate holds himself
Responsible for everything that he did.
But it's hard for me to lay down
And plead to felony charges that don't apply.
- By this point, the judge has heard enough.
- Is it your intention today to enter this guilty plea?
[thumps on desk]
- If I could address-- - this is either a yes or no.
Are you gonna enter your plea or not?
- I guess everybody thinks it's funny.
Let me just plea and get it over with for everybody.
Plea to something that I absolutely
Do not feel good about, but I don't want you to try
To send me to the penitentiary for years and years.
- Pate's attorney looks frustrated.
And the judge is fed up with pate's flip-flopping.
- I think we're done. At this point in time,
I think we're done.
Where I think we are today is, is that on the one hand,
The commonwealth can enforce the terms of this agreement
Based on the execution--
Mr. Pate, I am talking at this point in time.
- Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- At this point in time, I'm gonna sustain
The commonwealth's motion to revoke his bond.
He will be taken into the custody and housed
In the breckinridge county jail.
- Your honor, if I may speak to mr. Chamber's motion
To revoke the bond--
- I've already ruled.
I've already ruled at this point in time.
- Ma'am-- - we're done
At this point in time.
He's going into jail today.
- Pate eventually pled guilty
And accepted the terms of his sentence,
75 days in a county jail with credit for time served.
- Next, we're in louisville, kentucky,
For the arraignment of brandon lawrence.
The 27-year-old was charged
With violating a domestic protection order
And attempted murder
For allegedly nearly beating
His uncle to death
With a tire iron.
Why are you laughing?
- It's unclear whether lawrence is laughing
Because he thinks the $1/4-million bond
Is too high or too low.
Either way, the judge is unfazed and moves on
To discuss a proposed no-contact order
That includes the defendant's own mother.
- No contact?
That's my mother. What does my mother got
Anything to do with... - Is she--
- I ain't done nothing to my mother.
- Let's see. Maybe she was a witness
To this, so let's see. - Nobody was around.
That's all I'm gonna say. - This says--
- But as the judge tries to sort out the details
Of the no-contact order...
- "who was the victim's mother and defendant's grandmother"...
- Lawrence interrupts her.
- Yeah.
♪ ♪
- Apparently lawrence doesn't have
The time or patience
For something as trivial as an attempted murder charge.
- Um... Who is your attorney?
- Wilbur cox.
- Okay, you're gonna call mr. Cox on this?
- Yep, I sure am. - Okay.
All right, so we'll enter a not guilty plea--
[loud thud]
- I know.
- The loud bang that catches everyone off guard
Is the sound of lawrence
Punching the plexiglass divider
As he heads back to his cell.
♪ ♪
After the outburst, the judge doubles down
On lawrence's original bond of $250,000.
- All right, bond is increased to $500,000.
♪ ♪
- Brandon lawrence will stand trial in 2022.
♪ ♪
That's it for this edition of "courtcam."
I'm dan abrams. Thanks for watching.