Man on Trial Stabs Judge After Giving Testimony

David Paradiso leapt from the witness bench during his murder trial and stabbed the judge; Paradiso was shot dead in the chaos.

During his trial for the murder of his 20 year old girlfriend Eileen Pelt, David Paradiso, 28, leapt from the witness stand and stabbed Judge Cinda Fox with a `home-made` shank; he was shot dead in the courtroom where he had just given his testimony.

Events leading up to the stabbing and fatal shooting are as follows:

Paradiso had just finished giving his testimony, stating the reason he stabbed his girlfriend in the neck was ``cause she deserved it`

Judge Fox called for a recess and was in the process of ordering the jury out of the court when Paradiso’s mother shouted across the courtroom that her son should never have had to testify.

During the commotion Paradiso, jumped up from the witness booth, walked around walk behind the judge’s bench where he grabbed her from behind.

Reporters from the Stockton Record and Lodi News-Sentinel said that he appeared to punch and stab Fox.

The same Lodi police Detective, Eric Bradley, who had built the case against Paradiso was quick to draw his weapon in the ensuing disturbance and shot Paradiso dead.

David Paradiso's defense lawyer, Charles Pacheco, said that police were right to shoot his client.

Judge Fox’s injuries were minor and she is expected to make a quick recovery.

It is unclear, however, how Paradiso entered the courtroom with a weapon. Especially, after the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department had been warned by Paradiso’s family of a knife that Paradiso had told them he had in prison.

Detective Dave Konecny, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, said that he had no information of an alleged weapon before the trial.