GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge’s stern words for a Gaines Township man convicted of murdering his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son were cut short Thursday, when the suspect got into a courtroom scuffle.
Judge Mark Trusock was recounting testimony about the abuse leading up to the death of 4-year-old Giovanni Mejias when it happened.
Trusock said what Elis Nelson Ortiz-Nieves, 25, did to the boy was gruesome, including seven blows to the head and putting out cigarettes on his body. The judge was describing belt-buckle shaped bruises on the boy when Ortiz-Nieves interrupted.
“I ain’t going to let you- I ain’t going to let you say those crazy (expletive) about me, man. No man, because he don’t even know, man,” Ortiz-Nieves said, turning to a courtroom officer.
When the judge continued describing the abuse, Ortiz-Nieves began struggling with officers. Shouts and crying could be heard coming from two female supporters of Ortiz-Nieves as he was led out of the courtroom.
“Anyone says anything back there, arrest them,” Trusock ordered bailiffs.
Shortly after the scuffle, Ortiz-Nieves was led back into the room.
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