It was a Brooklyn courtroom proceeding that could have ended very badly for female federal prosecutor Carolyn Pokorny, who was attacked by a third-strike convict she was prepared to send to prison for life. Victor Wright is a drug dealer who was being led into court for sentencing when he suddenly lunged at 38-year-old Pokorny, seizing her by the neck. In his other hand, Wright held an inch-long razor blade.
Wright's own defense attorney, 72-year-old Harry Batchelder Jr., immediately counterattacked along with 61-year-old court stenographer Ron Tolkin, and two court officers. The men wrestled Wright to the floor, where they discovered the razor blade in his hand. Per the New York Post, Batchelder said "He was going to slash her throat." The New York Times quotes the septugenarian hero: "As soon as Victor brushed past me and I heard Carolyn scream, I wasn’t going to worry about the attorney-client privilege. I joined the party." The defense attorney was slashed on the arm while subduing the violent man almost half his age.
Both Batchelder and Tolkin are military veterans, having served in Vietnam decades ago and were the first to try to separate Wright from Pokorny. The Assistant US Attorney suffered some bruises to her neck. Prisoners are usually searched before leaving prison and again when entering a courthouse. It's unclear how Wright managed to get his weapon into the courtroom. Tolkin suspects he must have secreted the shiv somewhere on or in his body.
Wright has already served 20 of his 37 years in prison. An associate of crack kingpin Kenneth McGriff, Wright will face more charges.
