onedef92
04-14-2011, 11:22am
Tyler man gets life in prison after courtroom outburst
Posted: Apr 14, 2011 8:21 AM EDT
Updated: Apr 14, 2011 8:26 AM EDT
TYLER, TX (KLTV) - A Tyler man is sentenced to life in prison on the same day he had to be removed from court after an outburst toward the judge.
After being convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity, Prentiss Hawkins took the stand, against the advice of his attorney, to plead for lenience from the jury in the sentencing phase.
On his way to the witness stand, Hawkins flashed signs toward KLTV's cameras, and he argued with prosecutors about what he was saying.
"As you were walking by here to take this witness stand, before the jury came in, what were you showing?" asked the prosecutor.
"I threw a west side, west side, the side of town where I'm from. The same side of town Quantell Truman is from, " said Hawkins.
Before this exchange, Hawkins had already been removed from the courtroom after an expletive-laden outburst.
The jury sentenced him to life on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, including use of a deadly weapon, for shooting two men in March of last year.
Posted: Apr 14, 2011 8:21 AM EDT
Updated: Apr 14, 2011 8:26 AM EDT
TYLER, TX (KLTV) - A Tyler man is sentenced to life in prison on the same day he had to be removed from court after an outburst toward the judge.
After being convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity, Prentiss Hawkins took the stand, against the advice of his attorney, to plead for lenience from the jury in the sentencing phase.
On his way to the witness stand, Hawkins flashed signs toward KLTV's cameras, and he argued with prosecutors about what he was saying.
"As you were walking by here to take this witness stand, before the jury came in, what were you showing?" asked the prosecutor.
"I threw a west side, west side, the side of town where I'm from. The same side of town Quantell Truman is from, " said Hawkins.
Before this exchange, Hawkins had already been removed from the courtroom after an expletive-laden outburst.
The jury sentenced him to life on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, including use of a deadly weapon, for shooting two men in March of last year.