Judge Wants New Counsel for Man Accused of Stabbing Lawyer

The Associated Press
March 1, 2007

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A lawyer who was stabbed by his client during jury selection in the man's rape trial will be asked to step down from the case.

Superior Court Judge Charles Grabau said Wednesday he will ask attorney John Courtney to withdraw from the trial of Che Sosa, who allegedly stabbed Courtney with a sharp, makeshift weapon made out of Plexiglas Tuesday.

Grabau scheduled a hearing Thursday to decide how to proceed with the rape trial.

Sosa lunged at Courtney in Norfolk, Mass., Superior Court on the first day of jury selection, stabbing him in the face and chest, said Michael Connolly, a spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney's office.

Sosa, 37, attacked Courtney as a prospective juror was being questioned, Connolly said. He was restrained by court officers.

Courtney, who was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, did not return a call for comment Wednesday.

Sosa is charged with nine counts of aggravated rape in a 2001 attack in Quincy, Mass.

Connolly said security was beefed up with additional court officers for Sosa's court appearance Tuesday because of his violent history. Sosa was wearing leg irons in court when he allegedly attacked Courtney.

State police are investigating how Sosa managed to bring a weapon into court. He was taken back to MCI-Cedar Junction after the attack.