May 6, 2008 6:49 pm US/Eastern
Murder Trial Disrupted By Angry Relative
BEL AIR, Md. (WJZ) ―
There's chaos in the courtroom as the murder trial of a convicted killer is disrupted by an angry relative of the victim.
Kevin Johns admitted to killing fellow prison inmate Philip Parker Jr. on a bus ride from Hagerstown to Baltimore in 2005.
Mike Hellgren has the dramatic developments in court Tuesday.
A taped confession played in court and the charged atmosphere proved too much for Philip Parker Jr.'s father. He tried to lunge at his son's accused murderer. A team of officers tackled him and pushed him out of the courtroom.
Prosecutors played Kevin Johns' taped confession, describing in chilling detail how he murdered fellow inmate Philip Parker Jr. on a prison bus bound for Supermax. While the tape played, Johns turned around and looked at Parker's father. Philip Parker Sr. screamed at him and threw his cane at him, causing officers to subdue the father, shutting down the trial for a half hour.
In the grisly taped confession, Johns said he choked Parker with his arm chains.
"He was trying to get his breath, his jaw locked down on my arm. Blood started coming out of his head slowly. He started breathing real heavy, so I grabbed my razor and cut his neck. I heard people saying he's dead, so I let him go."
Later in his cell, police say Johns threw up razor blades he had swallowed.
Johns said he didn't know why he killed Parker on that bus but said he knew he wouldn't get away with it.
The case resulted in reforms of prison bus transport and the firing of several officers who were onboard during Parker's killing.
Johns' defense argues he isn't guilty, that he's insane and isn't criminally responsible. Johns lived most of his life in institutions and is already serving time for murdering his uncle and a 16-year-old cellmate.
Prosecutors say Johns becomes sexually aroused by committing murder.
The judge says the outburst will not affect the proceedings any further. The judge will make the final verdict; there is no jury. Johns could get the death penalty.
The trial is expected to last about a month.
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