Lawyer, Lawyer
Claudy Charles was on trial for arson, but it was his attorney who brought fire to the Miami, Fla., courtroom. Stephen Gutierrez was trying to convince the jury that Charles’s car had ignited of its own accord when either his pants or something in his pocket burst into flame. At least, he claimed (after making a quick exit and returning) that he didn’t start the fire as a demonstration; perhaps it was the unintended result of his fiddling in his pocket, or perhaps the vaping device he blamed actually did malfunction. Charles was convicted; Gutierrez may end up in contempt. (AC/Miami Herald) ...On the bright side, when he told the judge it wasn’t intentional, his pants didn’t ignite again.Author’s Note: Gutierrez appeared in True again: see “A Tendency Toward Spontaneity” in Volume 27.
Original Publication Date: 12 March 2017
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 23.
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 23.
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