Sheriff's officers are investigating a Kansas attorney for criminal use of explosives after they learned he used a dead grenade as a prop during his closing statements at a trial Monday.
Lawyer Sam Kepfield pulled the dud grenade out to make a point in a forgery and theft case against a Hutchinson, Kan., woman.
The Hutchinson News reports that Kepfield set the grenade on a ledge in front of jurors, then moved it to the prosecutor's table. He reportedly pulled the pin from the grenade and asked jurors, "Are you afraid now?"
"I was trying to demonstrate what's called an imminent threat," Kepfield told the paper.
There was no objection and the presiding judge simply asked that Kepfield remove the grenade from the table. Kepfield's client was convicted following 15 minutes of jury deliberations, according to the Hutchinson News.
And while the jurors reportedly told the judge that the incident didn't scare them, both the judge and local district attorney reported the matter to the Reno County sheriff.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder intends to also alert the Kansas attorney general's office.
"Clearly, I'm concerned about the situation and the safety of my employees, and I'm concerned about the way the jury's treated," Schroeder said.
I feel that this lawyer acted very irresponsibly in bringing a grenade, though dead, into the courtroom. Is this guy an expert in explosives? His actions are akin to waving around a gun in a public place that he's "positive" isn't loaded. You never can be too safe regarding weapons or ammunition, and for him to pull the pin was totally uncalled-for. Since when is it legal for ANYONE to bring explosives into a courthouse? He should have at least gotten clearance first.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that this lawyer acted completely irresponsibly. To make a point or not bring a weapon, regardless of if it is "loaded" is definitly inappropriate.
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