Although the incident took place last year, a courtroom brawl video has been making its rounds on social media lately, and we wanted to take a couple minutes to break down what happened and what can be expected in situations like this. In today’s blog, Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm break down a wild courtroom brawl in which the family of the victim attacks the alleged murdered.
Family Attacks Suspected Murderer In Court
Before we take a look at the video, let’s set the stage for what is about it happen. This video is from a court hearing for Alexander Ortiz, who was being held on trial for the murder of his then-girlfriend, Alianna Farfan. According to witness testimony, the pair were in a locked bedroom when a single gunshot was heard, and witnesses entered the room to see a masked man matching Ortiz’s description attempting to flee out the window. Police eventually caught up with Ortiz and charged him with Farfan’s murder.
Now let’s take a look at the video. You’ll see Ortiz, dressed in orange and wearing handcuffs and shackles, making a court appearance for the murder case. Shortly after the video begins, and man jumps the courtroom barrier and charges after Ortiz. Another man follows a couple of seconds later, and the both attempt to punch and kick Ortiz. A third audience member then joins the fracas, but this man seems to be going after the two men who are assaulting Ortiz. Two women also join the scrum before a law enforcement member is able to draw their taser and break up the scene.
It came out after the fact that one of the men in the video is Farfan’s uncle, who allegedly said that the attack was “worth every moment.”
Avery Appelman Comments
While he’s never seen something as brazen as this in the courtroom, Avery has certainly witnessed many emotionally-charged and tension-filled courtrooms. So what can we expect the fallout from something like this to be?
“My thoughts are centered on law and order. We have rules. Despite intense emotions, families of victims cannot seek retribution in this way. You have to be patient and determined to hold the prosecution to its requirements under victim notification laws.
The two males we see first in the video likely intended to assault the murder suspect. It’s likely that they will face some form of assault or battery charges, but given the stakes, it would not be surprising if those charges were eventually dropped or reduced. However, as the assault continues and an officer gets involved, now we have an assault on a law enforcement official. This is where a line will likely be drawn, and I expect assault charges to be pursued by the prosecution. They may not be found guilty for assaulting the defendant who murdered their niece, but they will likely face some legal repercussions in the form of an assault charge or similar criminal charge for continuing the fracas when the law enforcement officer got involved.”
As it turns out, both men were charged with felonies, including battery upon a police officer. We would not be surprised if they reached a plea deal to a lesser charge, but their cases either haven’t yet concluded or been made public.
At the end of the day, we know that emotions can run high, but trust the justice system to sort things out. Otherwise you may end up facing criminal charges of your own. And if you need help defending yourself against those charges, turn to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
