A Florida man who allegedly stabbed another man at an Orange County, Fla., bus stop went on a racist rant in court on Thursday morning.
Police stated that Thomas Thorpe stabbed victim Donald Sacco several times at the bus stop near Sixth Street in the Taft area on Wesdnesday. But he was held at gunpoint by a passerby until police arrived to arrest Thorpe.
Things got strange the next day in court when Thorpe told the judge not want an attorney to represent him against the murder charges he’s facing.
“Do you want a public defender appointed?” the judge asked, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
“Uh, no,” said Thorpe. “I’ve had a lousy experience with that.”
Thorpe said he believes attorneys screw people.
The judge, instead, thinks Thorpe has a mental problem and insisted on an attorney, which led to an awkward exchange with Thorpe.
“Thomas George Thorpe stated his case. Can I go now?” asked Thorpe.
“What?” asked the judge.
“Can I go now?” said Thorpe.
“You what?” asked the judge.
“I said, ‘Not guilty.’ (I) plead not guilty and I don’t want this Negro standing next to me, OK. I don’t want a Negro standing next to me,” Thorpe responded.
Thorpe is being held on no bond in the Orange County Jail.
The media obtained cellphone video that witness Si Macon recorded, which showed another man, Jeffery Hopkins, jump from a car and hold the alleged attacker at gunpoint until deputies could arrive. He said the victim sat bleeding on the bus stop bench.
Hopkins spoke to WFTV and said he just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
“As I was getting out, I noticed the guy had a knife in his hand so I went for my gun and took him down,” Hopkins said. “He looked at me very scared, then realized I was serious, and dropped the knife and laid down immediately.”
About Post Author
