Brisbane Times
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
'I'll run amok. I will': Court antics abort attempted murder trial
An attempted murder trial has been aborted after the defendant threatened to "run amok" in the court room.
David Allan Baldwin, 50, is accused of the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, who he stabbed in the heart twice in late 2009.
He admits he stabbed her at her Brisbane home but disputes he intented to kill her.
His Brisbane Supreme Court trial was first disrupted yesterday afternoon when Mr Baldwin's lawyers told Justice Debra Mullins their client was threatening to be disruptive in court and did not wish to be present in court during the rest of the proceeding.
When questioned in court in the absence of the jury, Mr Baldwin announced he did not want to be present for his trial and was happy for the proceeding to continue without him.
"I'm just sitting here [in the dock] like stale piss," he said.
Mr Baldwin threatened outbursts if made to stay in court during the trial.
"I'll run amok. I will. I'll do it in front of the jury. I'll upset that whole kettle of fish," he said.
Justice Mullins adjourned the case to 10am today but this morning Mr Baldwin announced he wanted to sack his Legal Aid-appointed barrister and wanted new lawyers.
The court was told if the trial was aborted the victim - who had completed her evidence yesterday - would be forced to go through the ordeal of testifying at a second trial.
"I don't give a rat's f---ing arse what you do now," he said.
"I don't know what you're f---ing talking about. I don't know your law crap and shit. I only went to grade four."
Justice Mullins asked him if he still wanted to maintain his plea of not guilty to the charge of attempted murder and his plea of guilty to the lesser charge of malicious act with intent, which he entered in court yesterday.
He replied: "F---ed if I know what I did yesterday".
Justice Mullins acknowledged it would take Mr Baldwin some time to find new lawyers.
She called jurors in to court and formally discharged them, telling them it was not a decision she had made lightly.
Mr Baldwin's case was set down for review on March 25.
