Dustin Diamond: Saved by the Bell actor's stabbing trial mired in controversy from the outset following lawyer's blunder
The case got off to a rocky start after Diamond's lawyer was reprimanded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dustin Diamond – the actor who played Screech in Nineties teen-com Saved By The Bell – was probably the last person the world expected to be making a headline comeback on Christmas Day 2014.
But images of the 38-year-old’s mugshot quickly went viral when he was arrested accused of pulling a knife and stabbing a man during a bar brawl in Port Washington, Wisconsin, after a women allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face. He was later charged.
This week saw Diamond and fiancée Amanda Schutz in court – and it seems the trial has already got off to a rocky start.
The actor’s lawyer, Thomas Alberti, was reprimanded by Judge Paul Malloy after reportedly driving to the courthouse with the message “good luck to Dustin and Amanda” scrawled in the back window of his car.
“I'm telling you right now, anymore shenanigans like that and you'll find yourself in contempt faster than fast,” Judge Malloy told Alberti, E! News reports.
“I don't know what you were thinking. Don't do anything more like that.”
“They're just good people,” Alberti told reporters gathered outside the court following the end of day two.
“I want to put on a good defence for them. What they did wasn't wrong, we're going to prove that in court. And no more messages on cars. We'll do it in the courtroom.”
Diamond, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently free on a $10,000 bail. If convicted, he could be set to spend up to five years in prison and five years of extended supervision.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments