Shocking courtroom video footage shows a convicted domestic abuser knocking his lawyer unconscious after receiving a 45-year prison sentence.
Judge Nancy Margaret Russo had just handed down a 47-year sentence, minus credit for the two years Chilston has already spent in custody, when the 42-year-old launched a surprise “sucker punch” attack on his defence attorney, Aaron Brockler.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Chislton is seen striking Brockler across the face with his cuffed hands before being subdued by officers, in footage captured on a body camera worn by a sheriff’s deputy.
Brockler was taken to hospital, where he was treated for a broken nose and severe concussion as a result of the punch, WTOL reports.
Eyewitnesses told Cleveland.com that the defendant “was cuffed with his hands in front of him, instead of behind him, as is more customary”, enabling him to strike
Chislton “spurred an hours-long police standoff in 2017 when he pistol-whipped his girlfriend and set his apartment complex on fire after she accused him of sexually abusing a teenage girl”, Cleveland.com reports.
He now faces additional prison time for the brutal assault.
In a statement, administrative judge John T. Russo said that the incident was “unfortunate”.
“We are thankful that Attorney Aaron Brockler was not more seriously injured. We wish him the best in a speedy recovery,” he said.