Opening statements in the murder trial of Andrew Moret came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday February 6th, after the deli worker accused of shooting a man outside the Hillsboro Police Department in Oregon refused to stop singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Moret, 34, is charged with murdering Alonzo Gregg, who was shot nine times in the Hillsboro Police Department parking lot in September 2015.
Moret was set to deliver his opening statements on Wednesday morning. But within the first minute of his opening remarks Moret was found in contempt of court, handcuffed and removed from the courtroom after a strange interaction with Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin.
“Before I begin, I’d like to take a moment of silence for all those who have fought and died for this country,” Moret began, lowering his head as he began his opening remarks.
When the judge told Moret that was not a proper way to begin opening statements in a murder trial, Moret began to sing the national anthem.
Erwin attempted to stop Moret from singing several times, saying Moret was causing a major disruption in the courtroom, but Moret continued to sing, even as the jury was escorted out of the courtroom.
