New England News

Friday, June 1, 2007

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Man accused of courtroom attack on lawyer convicted in rape trial

DEDHAM, Mass. -- The man who stabbed his own lawyer at his rape trial was convicted Friday of the charges and sentenced to up to 55 years in prison.

Che Sosa, 36, was convicted in Norfolk Superior Court three months after he allegedly snuck a makeshift plexi-glass knife into the courtroom and stabbed defense attorney John Courtney in the face and chest while a prospective juror was being questioned.

Two days later, Courtney and Judge Charles Grabau recused themselves from the case. Sosa was handcuffed and shackled and entered the courtroom behind a phalanx of security officers in helmets, gloves and padded chest protectors.

He greeted Courtney by asking, "You still breathing?"

On Friday, Sosa was convicted on more than a dozen charges, including nine counts of aggravated rape. He was sentenced to 30 to 40 years in state prison, with a separate 10 to 15 years to be served consecutively.

Sosa has not been tried yet on charges of armed assault with attempt to murder for the courtroom stabbing. He also faces assault charges for allegedly attacking corrections officers last year.

"This is a man who has proven himself to be among the most dangerous in society," Norfolk District Attorney William Keating said in a statement.

Joseph Krowski, the attorney assigned to represent Sosa after the alleged stabbing, said he'll file a motion for a new trial.

The defense attorney said he was "rushed to trial" and wasn't able to use his own DNA expert to challenge prosecutors. He said Sosa is innocent.

"It was absolutely unfair," Krowski said. "There were also some security issues that reflected badly on (Sosa). He was wearing a jump suit, he was chained down."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)