Defendant Slits Wrists in Front of Judge

rockin'robin · 05-28-2009, 11:55 AM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A defendant smuggled a razor-blade into a Duval County courtroom Wednesday and cut his wrist as he stood in front a judge.

Shawn Roberts was appearing at a pretrial hearing on charges he broke into a Channel 4 producer's apartment with a gun and attacked her.

"I think the quote was, 'Judge I think he's bleeding,'" Assistant State Attorney Matt O'Keefe said. "They give him razor-blades to shave in the morning and he had smuggled it into court and was holding it. When he got in front of the judge, he literally began taking a small razor blade and slicing his left wrist with it."

Courthouse guards and paramedics rushed to Courtroom 7. Roberts was not seriously hurt and was not transported to a hospital.

"I would call this a suicide gesture," O'Keefe said. "A suicide act would be someone really attempting to kill themselves."

O'Keefe called it a feeble attempt to convince the judge that he is unfit to stand trial on charges of burglary with battery. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

"He has been examined twice by a competent psychiatrist and they've found that very point -- there's nothing wrong with Mr. Roberts," O'Keefe said. "This was simply another attempt by Mr. Roberts to play off on the court that he has issues."

After Roberts was bandaged, he returned to the courtroom and appeared to be confused.

"I don't understand what's going on. I'm going in and out," Roberts said to Judge Mark Mahon.

"Well, I think you're in right now," Mahon said, then told Roberts that he didn't make a good decision when he superficially cut himself.

"You appear to be somewhat savvy with regards to this, although I think you're getting some bad advice from 'lawyers' in jail," Mahon said.

Chief Tara Wildes, who is in charge of the Duval County jail, said Roberts was searched prior to being taken to court and they believe he hid the razor blade in a bandage.

"We can't find where any security procedures were violated," Wildes told Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo. "He was searched at least twice before leaving the jail and probably upon arriving at the courthouse as well ... but you can see, this is a mighty small piece of razor."

Prosecutors said that smuggling a weapon into court will result in additional charges against Roberts.

After the disruption, Mahon ruled that Roberts' previous conviction for raping a 14-year-old girl can be used against him in his trial, scheduled for next month.

Defendant Slits Wrist In Front Of Judge - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville

Hear Again · 05-28-2009, 12:10 PM

I'm not so sure I agree that this was a suicide attempt.

People who slit their wrist (i.e. cut) don't do so because they want to die. They do it because they are indirectly asking for help.

I have problems with self harm/cutting myself, but I don't do any of these behaviors because I'm suicidal. I do them because they give me a sense of control where I ordinarily have none.

Self harm/cutting also provides a temporary relief from the emotional pain I am experiencing.

Then again, perhaps I am misinterpreting the article.

rockin'robin · 05-28-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

I'm not so sure I agree that this was a suicide attempt.

People who slit their wrist (i.e. cut) don't do so because they want to die. They do it because they are indirectly asking for help.

I have problems with self harm/cutting myself, but I don't do any of these behaviors because I'm suicidal. I do them because they give me a sense of control where I ordinarily have none.

Self harm/cutting also provides a temporary relief from the emotional pain I am experiencing.

Then again, perhaps I am misinterpreting the article.

I agree with you. I was an "ex-cutter"....13 years ago. I got some help! It's an emotional, overwhelming feeling.

As for this guy who slit his wrists....just a ploy!...he's a career criminal!

Hear Again · 05-28-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockin'robin

I agree with you. I was an "ex-cutter"....13 years ago. I got some help! It's an emotional, overwhelming feeling.

As for this guy who slit his wrists....just a ploy!...he's a career criminal!

I agree with you on both counts.

This is off-topic a bit, but I'm currently working with my therapist on behavioral techniques to deal with my self harm/cutting. I've put a few of them into practice, but still need a little work because this is something I've done ever since I was a teenager.

I'm glad you've recovered from your cutting. Good for you!

Oceanbreeze · 05-28-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

I'm not so sure I agree that this was a suicide attempt.

People who slit their wrist (i.e. cut) don't do so because they want to die. They do it because they are indirectly asking for help.

I have problems with self harm/cutting myself, but I don't do any of these behaviors because I'm suicidal. I do them because they give me a sense of control where I ordinarily have none.

Self harm/cutting also provides a temporary relief from the emotional pain I am experiencing.

Then again, perhaps I am misinterpreting the article.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockin'robin

I agree with you. I was an "ex-cutter"....13 years ago. I got some help! It's an emotional, overwhelming feeling.

As for this guy who slit his wrists....just a ploy!...he's a career criminal!

I agree that this wasn't a suicide attempt, but I also don't think this guy is a cutter either; meaning I don't think an emotional or psychological urge drove this man to slice his wrist. I believe it was a play for leniency infront of the judge. I also wonder what they could have done to prevent this guy from bringing the sharp into court.

Stupid!

Hear Again · 05-28-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oceanbreeze

I agree that this wasn't a suicide attempt, but I also don't think this guy is a cutter either; meaning I don't think an emotional or psychological urge drove this man to slice his wrist. I believe it was a play for leniency infront of the judge. I also wonder what they could have done to prevent this guy from bringing the sharp into court.

Stupid!

That's a good point Ocean and something I didn't consider.

And you're right -- bringing a sharp object into court was a dumb thing to do.

jillio · 05-28-2009, 12:46 PM

Agreed, OB. This was not a suicide attempt, nor was it even a suicidal gesture. It was not cutting behavior. Cutting behaviors are ritualistic and performed in private. If he were actually making a suicide attempt, he would not have chosen a packed courtroom where help would be immediately available. This was simply an attempt to manipulate the court and convince them that he was not competent to stand trial.

Babyblue · 05-28-2009, 02:48 PM

I agree.. This was a feeble attempt to manipulate the system.

Be suprised by what people will do in order avoid standing trial or going to prison.

Hear Again · 05-28-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I agree.. This was a feeble attempt to manipulate the system.

Be suprised by what people will do in order avoid standing trial or going to prison.

jillio · 05-28-2009, 05:46 PM

He did what he did in a misguided attempt to convince the court that he was not competent to stand trial. If he could plan it out, he is indeed competent. Backfired on him.

***VamPyroX*** · 05-28-2009, 11:55 PM

Boy, the things people think of these days...

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Agreed, OB. This was not a suicide attempt, nor was it even a suicidal gesture. It was not cutting behavior. Cutting behaviors are ritualistic and performed in private. If he were actually making a suicide attempt, he would not have chosen a packed courtroom where help would be immediately available. This was simply an attempt to manipulate the court and convince them that he was not competent to stand trial.

hah!! for once we agreee on something mark this one in your calendars folks, lol seriously though whoever that guard was that checked for blades and didnt catch it should be fired effective immediatly I was a guard once, he couldve slashed a officers throat or a judge theres no excuse for incompetence

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

here in dallas we had a guy cut out his eyes and eat them since he was looking at a triple life sentence

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

here in dallas we had a guy cut out his eyes and eat them since he was looking at a triple life sentence

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

here in dallas we had a guy cut out his eyes and eat them since he was looking at a triple life sentence

I guess he's now going to have a permanent reminder of his stupidity.

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Agreed, OB. This was not a suicide attempt, nor was it even a suicidal gesture. It was not cutting behavior. Cutting behaviors are ritualistic and performed in private. If he were actually making a suicide attempt, he would not have chosen a packed courtroom where help would be immediately available. This was simply an attempt to manipulate the court and convince them that he was not competent to stand trial.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

hah!! for once we agreee on something mark this one in your calendars folks, lol

It has been duly noted.

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

I guess he's now going to have a permanent reminder of his stupidity.

he was still found guilty and competent to stand trial lol what a dumbasss

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

he was still found guilty and competent to stand trial lol what a dumbasss

I guess that's what you call true "blind justice."

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

I guess that's what you call true "blind justice."

that is wrong man!!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!, same point with the guy in this case he slit his wrist and everyone says hes competent so that was pretty pointless to slit your rist or whatever he did

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

that is wrong man!!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!, same point with the guy in this case he slit his wrist and everyone says hes competent so that was pretty pointless to slit your rist or whatever he did

Like I told you on your profile page, this person is a prime candidate for the Darwin Awards.

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

Like I told you on your profile page, this person is a prime candidate for the Darwin Awards.

lol pre evolution one? lol ill give him two!!!! for both eyes!

Babyface · 05-29-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

lol pre evolution one? lol ill give him two!!!! for both eyes!

and no offense to blind people because the guy isnt blind he has no eyes whatsoever he only has eye sockets, plus no offense to blind people again because I have a friend who is almost blind so there dont hit me!!!!!

netrox · 05-29-2009, 01:24 AM

Self-mutiliation is nothing new, actually.

Some do to cope with pain. Some to get attention. Some do to "feel" pain when feeling totally "numb." Some do it for pleasure (yes, pain can be pleasurable for some, especially after the injury). Professional male fighting involves injury but men seem to enjoy them. Football often have injuries but many boys seem to like injuries. There are many reasons for self-injury. Extreme mulitation have been documented... like men cutting their balls off or even worse, hammering nails through their balls.

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

and no offense to blind people because the guy isnt blind he has no eyes whatsoever he only has eye sockets, plus no offense to blind people again because I have a friend who is almost blind so there dont hit me!!!!!

I would say he ought to have his eyelids sewn shut, but I don't think he's deserving of that.

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netrox

Extreme mulitation have been documented... like men cutting their balls off or even worse, hammering nails through their balls.

And I thought my self harm/cutting behaviors were bad.

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyface

lol pre evolution one? lol ill give him two!!!! for both eyes!

Agreed!

Hear Again · 05-29-2009, 01:28 AM

Actually, I shouldn't joke about the criminal in Dallas because in the article I read about him, it stated that he had a history of mental illness. That doesn't excuse what he did, but may explain his actions -- or not?

Note that I'm not trying to start a debate about mental illness. I just realized that this was in his background.

In any case, I sincerely hope that person (in Dallas) gets the help he needs because it is quite clear how much it is needed.

jillio · 05-29-2009, 09:49 AM

Anyone who cuts their own eyes out and eats them is seriously mentally ill. That doesn't mean that they are not competent to stand trial, nor does it mean that they were not competent at the time the crime was comitted.

***VamPyroX*** · 05-29-2009, 11:24 AM

This reminds me of a comment I saw in a lawyer movie once. This guy was on trial for murder. Before he went to the court house, he smeared his butt with peanut butter. When he showed up in court, he jumped on the table... stuck his hand down his pants... acted like he wiped his butt... then took his hand out showing the "poop" on his hands. He then took a nice long lick and suck off his hands. Because of that, the judge declared him insane.

jillio · 05-29-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

This reminds me of a comment I saw in a lawyer movie once. This guy was on trial for murder. Before he went to the court house, he smeared his butt with peanut butter. When he showed up in court, he jumped on the table... stuck his hand down his pants... acted like he wiped his butt... then took his hand out showing the "poop" on his hands. He then took a nice long lick and suck off his hands. Because of that, the judge declared him insane.

A judge cannot declare someone "insane". That has to be done based on a clinical evaluation. The judge can only agree or disagree with the evaluation, and determine that a person is not competent to stand trial based on clinical evidence of insanity.

05-28-2009, 11:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 15,304	Defendant Slits Wrists in Front of Judge JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A defendant smuggled a razor-blade into a Duval County courtroom Wednesday and cut his wrist as he stood in front a judge. Shawn Roberts was appearing at a pretrial hearing on charges he broke into a Channel 4 producer's apartment with a gun and attacked her. "I think the quote was, 'Judge I think he's bleeding,'" Assistant State Attorney Matt O'Keefe said. "They give him razor-blades to shave in the morning and he had smuggled it into court and was holding it. When he got in front of the judge, he literally began taking a small razor blade and slicing his left wrist with it." Courthouse guards and paramedics rushed to Courtroom 7. Roberts was not seriously hurt and was not transported to a hospital. "I would call this a suicide gesture," O'Keefe said. "A suicide act would be someone really attempting to kill themselves." O'Keefe called it a feeble attempt to convince the judge that he is unfit to stand trial on charges of burglary with battery. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. "He has been examined twice by a competent psychiatrist and they've found that very point -- there's nothing wrong with Mr. Roberts," O'Keefe said. "This was simply another attempt by Mr. Roberts to play off on the court that he has issues." After Roberts was bandaged, he returned to the courtroom and appeared to be confused. "I don't understand what's going on. I'm going in and out," Roberts said to Judge Mark Mahon. "Well, I think you're in right now," Mahon said, then told Roberts that he didn't make a good decision when he superficially cut himself. "You appear to be somewhat savvy with regards to this, although I think you're getting some bad advice from 'lawyers' in jail," Mahon said. Chief Tara Wildes, who is in charge of the Duval County jail, said Roberts was searched prior to being taken to court and they believe he hid the razor blade in a bandage. "We can't find where any security procedures were violated," Wildes told Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo. "He was searched at least twice before leaving the jail and probably upon arriving at the courthouse as well ... but you can see, this is a mighty small piece of razor." Prosecutors said that smuggling a weapon into court will result in additional charges against Roberts. After the disruption, Mahon ruled that Roberts' previous conviction for raping a 14-year-old girl can be used against him in his trial, scheduled for next month. Defendant Slits Wrist In Front Of Judge - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville

05-28-2009, 11:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 40.18, 58.41 Posts: 34,158	Boy, the things people think of these days... __________________ Check out my city... C L I C K H E R E! (If you've already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

05-29-2009, 11:24 AM	#29 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 40.18, 58.41 Posts: 34,158	This reminds me of a comment I saw in a lawyer movie once. This guy was on trial for murder. Before he went to the court house, he smeared his butt with peanut butter. When he showed up in court, he jumped on the table... stuck his hand down his pants... acted like he wiped his butt... then took his hand out showing the "poop" on his hands. He then took a nice long lick and suck off his hands. Because of that, the judge declared him insane. __________________ Check out my city... C L I C K H E R E! (If you've already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

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05-28-2009, 12:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	I'm not so sure I agree that this was a suicide attempt. People who slit their wrist (i.e. cut) don't do so because they want to die. They do it because they are indirectly asking for help. I have problems with self harm/cutting myself, but I don't do any of these behaviors because I'm suicidal. I do them because they give me a sense of control where I ordinarily have none. Self harm/cutting also provides a temporary relief from the emotional pain I am experiencing. Then again, perhaps I am misinterpreting the article.

05-28-2009, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	Agreed, OB. This was not a suicide attempt, nor was it even a suicidal gesture. It was not cutting behavior. Cutting behaviors are ritualistic and performed in private. If he were actually making a suicide attempt, he would not have chosen a packed courtroom where help would be immediately available. This was simply an attempt to manipulate the court and convince them that he was not competent to stand trial.

05-28-2009, 02:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Babyblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12,001	I agree.. This was a feeble attempt to manipulate the system. Be suprised by what people will do in order avoid standing trial or going to prison.

05-28-2009, 05:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	He did what he did in a misguided attempt to convince the court that he was not competent to stand trial. If he could plan it out, he is indeed competent. Backfired on him.

05-29-2009, 01:24 AM	#23 (permalink)
netrox Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,780	Self-mutiliation is nothing new, actually. Some do to cope with pain. Some to get attention. Some do to "feel" pain when feeling totally "numb." Some do it for pleasure (yes, pain can be pleasurable for some, especially after the injury). Professional male fighting involves injury but men seem to enjoy them. Football often have injuries but many boys seem to like injuries. There are many reasons for self-injury. Extreme mulitation have been documented... like men cutting their balls off or even worse, hammering nails through their balls.

05-29-2009, 01:28 AM	#27 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	Actually, I shouldn't joke about the criminal in Dallas because in the article I read about him, it stated that he had a history of mental illness. That doesn't excuse what he did, but may explain his actions -- or not? Note that I'm not trying to start a debate about mental illness. I just realized that this was in his background. In any case, I sincerely hope that person (in Dallas) gets the help he needs because it is quite clear how much it is needed.

05-29-2009, 09:49 AM	#28 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	Anyone who cuts their own eyes out and eats them is seriously mentally ill. That doesn't mean that they are not competent to stand trial, nor does it mean that they were not competent at the time the crime was comitted.