An accused murderer with a well-documented history of courtroom outbursts, threats, mental illness, and an intellectual disability that made him ineligible for the death penalty is set to stand trial for three 2016 slayings after years of delays.
Brice Rhodes, a 33-year-old Kentucky rapper known as “Rambo” and criminal defendant who years ago went viral for having to wear a Bane-like mask in court after spitting on an attorney, is on trial in a Louisville courtroom for the May 2016 murder of 40-year-old Christopher Jones and the ensuing murders of 14-year-old Larry Ordway and 16-year-old Maurice Gordon, brothers and alleged witnesses to the Jones shooting who were weeks later stabbed to death and their bodies burned.
Though his co-defendants’ cases were resolved years ago through plea deals, the case against Rhodes has been marred by his threats against a judge in court, a revolving door of defense attorneys, the alleged jailhouse assault of a nurse, and the defendant’s repeated courtroom outbursts.
If you watch just one twitter video today, make it this one, if only for the reaction of Brice Rhodes’ attorney after he suggests the judge is having sex with the prosecutor. And then accuses judge of being in KKK. pic.twitter.com/k0Saf2kEwa
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) March 10, 2020
When it appeared that the case was finally going to trial last January after several years of case delays, what was left of Rhodes’ defense team sought an examination of their client’s competency.
Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Julie Kaelin in October reportedly wrote, citing “credible, historical, unbiased evidence,” that Rhodes is “intellectually disabled and suffers from a serious mental illness,” making him ineligible to face the death penalty. At the same, Rhodes was competent to face a murder trial and the possibility of life without parole, if he is convicted as charged.
Brice Rhodes (left) in a mask he was forced to wear in court after spitting on an attorney, (right) while arguing with a judge (WLKY/screengrabs)
What will happen if, like in the past, Rhodes’ courtroom outbursts throw a wrench into the proceedings? Judge Kaelin reportedly warned Rhodes that if he chooses “to be a problem” when it comes to the orderly administration of justice, she’ll send the jury out of the room and let Rhodes decide if he’s going to oust himself from attending the proceedings in person or wear a “stun cuff” that will shock him if he gets out of line.
“I’m not going to make you wear it,” the judge remarked, local Fox affiliate WDRB reported. “You will be given the choice of staying in the courtroom with that device on [or exiting the courtroom].”
“But again, I don’t have any reason to think there’s going to be a problem,” Kaelin reportedly added, referring to her experience with Rhodes since she took over the case earlier in the year. “I think you want this trial over with, too.”
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