Courtroom mayhem: Double killer attacks his lawyer before sentencing

As he was being led into court to face a life sentence Tuesday, convicted double killer Revelle Loving turned on his defense attorney. Loving tackled William Selman and punched him in the face before deputies swarmed him.

A half-dozen sheriff's deputies restrained Loving face down on the floor of a Hennepin County courtroom filled with the families of Loving's victims, Ja'Naurri Allen, 18, and Mosetta Peters, 21.

Several family members wailed and cried. "He got the nerve," some said. Loving shouted back, "Shut up!"

Deputies cleared the room of spectators while Selman recovered in the chambers of District Court Judge Philip Bush, who had yet to enter the room when the attack occurred. Selman emerged with a mildly bruised and swollen face.

Attacks on defense attorneys are not common, but they do occur. Last month, the state Court of Appeals rejected an appeal for a new trial from a St. Louis County man who punched his defense lawyer repeatedly in the face. The court ruled the man gave up his right to counsel and he went on to unsuccessfully represent himself.

Just before lunch, Loving, 21, was convicted by a jury of two counts of premeditated first-degree murder in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Deliberations had begun Monday night.

Bush scheduled sentencing immediately after lunch because he is required to commit Loving for life without the possibility of parole.

The sentencing continued after the attack, but this time Loving's hands and legs were restrained. He was previously unshackled. He had a bruise and cut under his left eye. He sat in the empty jury box surrounded by five deputies, one of whom never took his eyes off Loving.

Selman sat alone at the defense table.

Both Revelle Loving and his brother Ronelle were charged in the Jan. 16, 2007, murders. Ronelle's trial is upcoming.

During trial, prosecutor Bev Benson said Revelle Loving was jealous. He and Peters have a young daughter together, and he was angry about Peters' six-month relationship with Allen.

Peters planned to try to get a restraining order against Revelle Loving, who had twice been charged with assaulting her. But she was killed the day before her court appointment, Benson said.

Benson said Loving fired an AK-47 numerous times into the parked car where Peters and Allen sat in a Brooklyn Park apartment complex.

Ronelle Loving is accused of firing a 9-millimeter handgun at the car.

When it was his turn to speak at sentencing, Loving addressed his and Peters' 4-year-old daughter, who is in foster care and was not present. "I love you and miss you. Sorry Daddy can't be with you. Sorry your mother can't be with you, but, you know, life goes on," he said.

First a car, then a casket

In her statement Allen's mother, Mona Davis, told the judge that she has suffered depression, lost her job and now stands to lose her house because of grief. "I am still trying to process the fact that I bought a car for graduation and then six months later I bought a casket," she said.

Bridget Michaud, Peters' mother, said that as a Christian she is trying to forgive. "I know that when you hoard hatred in your life, you don't move forward," she said, but she also believes Loving should die for his crimes.

Throughout the 15 minutes of statements from the family members, Loving rocked in his chair, smirked and looked at the ceiling.

Bush, who appeared on the verge of tears himself, told the families he respected how they have handled themselves in a difficult trial.

He told Loving his "senseless and cold-blooded acts" caused tremendous pain that will take a long time to heal.

Asked for comment after the court session, Selman said, "We're disappointed in the jury's verdict. We respect their decision. We just disagree with the verdict."

He said he did not want to talk about the attack. Selman, who has been a defense lawyer for about two decades, said he had never before been hit by a client.

Despite visible redness and swelling on the right side of his face, Selman said he didn't intend to see a doctor.

"I'm an ex-hockey player," the 48-year-old said in explanation.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747