{"id":312551,"date":"2024-03-01T09:27:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T15:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=312551"},"modified":"2024-03-01T10:35:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T16:35:07","slug":"las-vegas-defendant-claims-insanity-as-defense-for-attempting-to-kill-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/las-vegas-defendant-claims-insanity-as-defense-for-attempting-to-kill-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Defendant Claims Insanity After Attempting to Kill Judge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deobra Redden<\/a> entered a plea on Thursday that he’s not guilty of violently attacking a Las Vegas judge two months ago because of insanity.<\/p>\n

\"Deobra
Deobra Redden appears in court earlier this year, pictured above. Redden is accused of attacking a judge and other staff in a Las Vegas courtroom. (Image: Info-Flash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 31-year-old defendant refrained from outbursts when he appeared in court on Thursday. He was wearing shackles and a mask over his face. Judge Susan Johnson scheduled his criminal trial to start on April 29.<\/p>\n

On January 3, Redden hadn’t taken medication before he assaulted District Judge Mary Kay Holthus<\/a>, according to his lawyer, Carl Arnold, and Redden\u2019s relatives.<\/p>\n

Holthus had just told Redden he was not getting probation, but was heading to prison for a prior attempted battery charge.<\/p>\n

That led him to hurl obscenities and then jump onto the bench where the judge was seated. Redden tackled her, pulled her hair, grabbed her throat, and repeatedly punched her. He also attacked other staff in the courtroom.<\/p>\n

The judge and staff suffered various injuries.\u00a0Video of the attacks went viral on social media.<\/p>\n

Just like everybody else in looking at the video, I thought Mr. Redden was either out of his mind or on drugs,\u201d<\/strong> Arnold was quoted by Las Vegas TV station KSNV. \u201cI came to find out he suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia<\/a>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Arnold added that Redden must be able \u201cto help me in his own defense. He has to be able to testify if needed and understand what\u2019s going on and the legal consequences of what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

“At trial, we will be able to prove that because of his mental defect<\/a>, that he suffered under [a] delusional state. That delusional state caused him not to be aware of the nature and circumstances of his actions,\u201d Arnold explained.<\/p>\n

Numerous Charges<\/h2>\n

Redden is charged with attempted murder<\/a> and eight other counts for the January 3 violence. These include:<\/p>\n