Fireworks in Raleigh as defense wants judge off Broyhill murder trial
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- There were fireworks in a Raleigh courtroom Friday morning as the defense asked for a mistrial and for the judge to recuse himself in the Jonathan Broyhill murder trial.
"You've demonstrated a certain prejudice against this defendant from the beginning," Assistant Public Defender Joseph Arbour told Judge Paul C. Ridgeway.
Arbour alleged Ridgeway has overly limited questions, denied a previous request for a mistrial, required that defense attorneys call Broyhill by his last name, and even wouldn't allow Broyhill to appear shaved in front of jurors during jury selection - over defense objections.
"This man's entitled to a fair trial and that's not what's happening right now," said Arbour.
The defense first asked for a mistrial in the case Wednesday when Ridgeway removed a juror over concerns he'd been discussing the trial with his wife.
Friday's confrontation came as it appeared the defense was trying to introduce the theory that Broyhill was in the act of committing suicide and that Jamie Hahn tried to intervene when Broyhill stabbed her April 22, 2013.
Ridgeway denied both the motion for a mistrial and the motion for Ridgeway to recuse himself.
Broyhill is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Hahn and attempted murder for attacking her husband Nation when he intervened.
The defense doesn't deny the attacks, but has maintained Broyhill should be convicted of second-degree murder because it says the attack was not premeditated.
The defense has painted Broyhill as a "deeply troubled" man who lied to his friends about having illnesses and other personal problems.
The prosecution says Broyhill kept the books for Jamie Hahn's political consulting company and had embezzled more than $46,500 from the campaign of Congressman Brad Miller.
Jamie was confronting Broyhill about the missing money in her north Raleigh home when she was stabbed.
The cross examination of what is likely the prosecution's last witness could wrap up on Monday morning. The judge told the defense to be ready to call any witnesses immediately.
