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| Chaos breaks out in courtroom as father attacks killer of three-year-old daughter | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Court cameras have captured the moment the bereaved father of a three-year-old girl attacks the man responsible for killing her - punching him in the head. | |
| The incident happened during the sentencing of Jasmine Gordon and her boyfriend Clifford Thomas, who were both convicted in the death of Gordon’s three-year-old daughter Jamila Smith, the Detroit Free Press reported. | The incident happened during the sentencing of Jasmine Gordon and her boyfriend Clifford Thomas, who were both convicted in the death of Gordon’s three-year-old daughter Jamila Smith, the Detroit Free Press reported. |
| The girl’s father, Dwayne Smith, was set to deliver a speech to the court about the impact his daughter’s death had on him. | The girl’s father, Dwayne Smith, was set to deliver a speech to the court about the impact his daughter’s death had on him. |
| Instead, he came face to face with Thomas and attacked him, punching him in the head. The wild scenes were caught on video | |
| Officers from Wayne County Sheriff’s Office quickly separated the pair as loud yelling erupted in the courtroom. | Officers from Wayne County Sheriff’s Office quickly separated the pair as loud yelling erupted in the courtroom. |
| In the video, Gordon can be seen crying and yelling “Jesus” as her lawyer, John McWilliams, tries to console her. | In the video, Gordon can be seen crying and yelling “Jesus” as her lawyer, John McWilliams, tries to console her. |
| “It was pretty scary,” Mr McWilliams said. | “It was pretty scary,” Mr McWilliams said. |
| “I’m glad nobody was seriously hurt”. | “I’m glad nobody was seriously hurt”. |
| Jamila Smith died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries in September last year. Her death was ruled a homicide. | Jamila Smith died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries in September last year. Her death was ruled a homicide. |
| Both Gordon and Thomas were convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month. | Both Gordon and Thomas were convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month. |
| Smith was not allowed to return to the courtroom but managed to avoid being charged over the incident. | Smith was not allowed to return to the courtroom but managed to avoid being charged over the incident. |
| “No charges were pursued against those involved as the judge declined to hold Dwayne Smith in contempt of court,” a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told the newspaper. | “No charges were pursued against those involved as the judge declined to hold Dwayne Smith in contempt of court,” a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told the newspaper. |
| “Clifford Thomas refused prosecution of Smith.” | “Clifford Thomas refused prosecution of Smith.” |
| Gordon was sentenced to between seven to fifteen years for involuntary manslaughter and fourteen to twenty-five for child abuse. | Gordon was sentenced to between seven to fifteen years for involuntary manslaughter and fourteen to twenty-five for child abuse. |
| Thomas was sentenced to about six years to fifteen years for involuntary manslaughter and one to two years for resisting and obstructing a police officer. | Thomas was sentenced to about six years to fifteen years for involuntary manslaughter and one to two years for resisting and obstructing a police officer. |