A man accused of murder attacked and injured a judge at the Old Bailey in London today.
Judge Ann Goddard, 64, lay on the floor bleeding from her face after the man, who is accused of killing his partner with a sword, leaped out of the dock and punched her.
He managed to land several punches before lawyers, police and officials at the court grabbed him.
Judge Goddard had just adjourned the case so the man could consult with his legal representatives.
The man cannot be named for legal reasons as he is already facing trial and may now face new charges relating to the incident. A police officer who was in court said: "He suddenly vaulted over the dock everyone thought he was trying to escape and blocked off the exits, but instead, he ran down the side of the court and to the platform where the judge sits.
"He punched her, and I think there were five or six other punches which connected as we grabbed him and were trying to pull him away.'' The man, in his early 30s, was later remanded in custody in his absence to Friday by another judge.
AFP