Tulare Co. murder suspect stabs his attorney

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Tulare County public defender is recovering after he was stabbed by his client. Rafael Mendoza was on trial for murdering his wife.

Sheriff's department investigators say as the jury was entering the courtroom, Mendoza stood up and stabbed Attorney John Shepard in the face with a makeshift weapon.

Sheriff's investigators are looking into whether all security checks were made prior to Mendoza entering the courtroom. Mendoza now faces attempted murder charges.

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