Reply #27: I agree with you about the bailiff. He was possibly snoozing on the job.

[Gwendolyn]

Lol, you're looking at the situation from the perspective of a 6'3" big guy, and I'm looking at it from the POV of a much teenier woman. :)

I've been in a violent situation too, and remember the initial paralysis of shock and fear very well. Was just putting myself in the shoes of frightened, possibly paunchy, unathletic lawyers and a potentially elderly, and/or female judge.

Don't know what was up with the bailiff, except that perhaps, as you say, the usually mundane agenda of the day caused him to slack off and think about lunch instead of doing his job. But then again, knife brawls are messy, the attacker was obviously enraged and therefore probably fueled with extra strength, so we can't really say why he missed his shot, or couldn't get the attacker off the woman. I understand that it often takes several people to control someone who's become that violent with rage.

Edited to add, thanks for your argument too. I get better where you were coming from. And now, off to lunch.