Man slashes lawyer's face

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A New Orleans man on trial for allegedly kidnapping a child whipped out a razor blade and slashed his attorney's face and neck in a Baton Rouge courtroom.

The incident Wednesday occurred a day after Barbette Williams, 48, threatened to shoot his public defender, the prosecutor and the judge, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported Thursday.

Williams jumped from his seat in the courtroom, grabbed Bert Garraway in a headlock and cut him above the eye and on the neck.

Williams was later overpowered by deputies. The blade he used apparently came from a disposable razor.

Williams is accused of abducting 6-year-old Ben Smith IV from his class in March of last year, shooting at police officers and barricading himself before being caught. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

He also faces the death penalty in New Orleans on four counts of first-degree murder. That trial will start after the current one.