Destin Gregory

WARREN — A relative of a slain 37-year-old attacked the man’s accused killer Tuesday as the prosecution was conducting testimony.

Destin Gregory, 32, landed several punches to the body and face of the defendant Gavin Roberts before being restrained and arrested by Trumbull County sheriff’s deputies and a police officer.

The melee occurred during the testimony of a Warren officer as the prosecution prepared to play body camera footage depicting the aftermath of a shooting that claimed the life of Brice Hilton.

In the courtroom surveillance video, Gregory can be seen heading toward the court doors to leave before redirecting and hurling a punch toward Roberts, while also clearing a barrier and knocking over a chair, which sent it across the courtroom.

Gregory pushed Roberts to the ground and continued throwing punches at the defendant in front of the judge’s bench. A sheriff’s deputy wrestled Gregory off Roberts.

Roberts watched from the witness stand as deputies and the policeman, whose testimony was interrupted, aided in restraining Gregory near the jury box.

Gregory was charged with misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest. He will be arraigned in Warren Municipal Court.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Cynthia W. Rice ordered a recess and later called for a short hearing with legal counsel to determine whether to continue the trial and if the incident warranted a mistrial.

During that brief hearing, the county’s First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said the emotional outburst and attack could be grounds for a mistrial under Ohio case law. However, it’s dependent on whether the defendant had been deprived of a fair trial or if the incident influenced the jury.

Roberts’ attorney, Jeffrey Goodman, told the court he wanted to seek a mistrial. He stated that the emotional outburst was at the “extreme end” of the types of cases referred to in state law.

“This was more than just someone yelling something, shouting something or being disruptive,” Goodman said. “This was a violent attack that required police officers and deputies to wrestle the assailant to the ground.”

Afterward, Rice met with each juror briefly to discuss whether they felt comfortable continuing. Only one elderly juror decided to remove themselves from the jury.

Roberts’ trial resumed with legal counsel returning where they left off.