Federal judge testifies at trial of man accused of trying to kill him
A federal judge from Jacksonville, Florida, testified on Wednesday at the trial of a man accused of firing a shot that barely missed him.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan testified against Aaron Markus Richardson, who is charged with attempted murder and 24 other charges, Jacksonville.com reports. Richardson is accused of hiding in the bushes outside Corrigan’s home in June 2013 and firing a shot that missed the judge but shattered glass, causing minor injuries to the judge.
Corrigan had sentenced Richardson to three years of time served and three years of supervised release for a 2008 firebombing. Richardson was accused of violating the conditions of release when he stole computers in January 2013, a charge that could send him back to prison.
Evidence introduced at trial suggested Richardson had plotted to kill the judge and forge his signature on phony documents ordering dismissal of criminal charges and pardoning him for past crimes, according to the story. The documents were discovered at the home of Richardson’s mother.
Corrigan pointed out that he had no power to issue pardons or to order other judges to dismiss charges. He also said the documents had misspellings and language he would never use.
The trial is expected to wrap up soon, First Coast News reports.