JUDGE GRANTS NEW TRIAL TO MAN GIVEN ELECTRIC SHOCK IN COURT

Long Beach - A judge granted a new trial Friday to a convicted thief who was
given a 50,000 volt shock from a stun belt for speaking out of turn in
court.

Long Beach Superior Court Judge Arthur Jean ordered an Oct. 30 conference to
set the retrial of Ronnie Hawkins on burglary and petty theft charges.

Over Hawkins' interruptions, Jean also denied his request to represent
himself at the new trial.

Hawkins' battery-powered stun belt was activated at a June 30 sentencing
hearing on orders from Long Beach Municipal Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani. The
judge was irked at interruptions from Hawkins,who was acting as his own
lawyer.

Hawkins argued that the incident denied him a chance to properly represent
himself.

Hawkins, 48, had been convicted of second-degree burglary and petty theft in
April for stealing $200 worth of aspirin. But after the stun-belt incident,
Comparet-Cassani recused herself without sentencing him.

Hawkins has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the
judge,courts and Sheriff's Department.

The FBI has begun a preliminary investigation into possible civil rights
violations, and Amnesty International has alleged the shock was a form of
torture that violated international law.

Checked-by: Don Beck