http://www.miamiherald.com/new...rticle137317553.html

Hot story: Miami lawyer’s pants erupt in flames during arson trial in court

A Miami defense lawyer’s pants burst into flames Wednesday afternoon as he began his closing arguments in front of a jury — in an arson case.

Stephen Gutierrez, who was arguing that his client’s car spontaneously combusted and was not intentionally set on fire, had been fiddling in his pocket as he was about to address jurors when smoke began billowing out his right pocket, witnesses told the Miami Herald.

He rushed out of the Miami courtroom, leaving spectators stunned. After jurors were ushered out, Gutierrez returned unharmed, with a singed pocket, and insisted it wasn’t a staged defense demonstration gone wrong, observers said.

Instead, Gutierrez blamed a faulty battery in an e-cigarette, witnesses told the Miami Herald.

“It was surreal,” one observer told the Miami Herald.

Repeated calls to Gutierrez’s cellphone went unanswered. Miami-Dade police and prosecutors are now investigating the episode. Officers seized several frayed e-cigarette batteries as evidence.

“A lot of people could have been hurt,” another observer in court told the Miami Herald.

Gutierrez was representing Claudy Charles, 48, who is accused of intentionally setting his car on fire in South Miami-Dade. He had just started his closing arguments when the fire broke out. Jurors convicted Charles anyway of second-degree arson.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman, in the coming days, could decide to hold Gutierrez in contempt of court.

The 28-year-old lawyer graduated from Florida International University’s law school in 2015.

With millions of users across the country, e-cigarettes deliver vaporized nicotine through a heated liquid solution. But questions about the health and fire risks of the products have mounted, with the U.S. Department of Transportation recently banning e-cigarettes from checked bags on airplanes.

Last year, a Naples man filed suit in Miami-Dade after an e-cigarette exploded in his mouth, leaving him in a coma.

Liar, liar...

liar liar pants on fire!

Karma

Was Carrie present?

quote:

Instead, Gutierrez blamed a faulty battery in an e-cigarette, witnesses told the Miami Herald.

I was prepared to blame his cell phone. Contempt of court?

For an accident?

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:

quote:

Instead, Gutierrez blamed a faulty battery in an e-cigarette, witnesses told the Miami Herald.

I was prepared to blame his cell phone. Contempt of court?

For an accident?

RMD

He was trying to 'prove' that his client's car spontaneously combusted and it wasn't his fault. I kinda think this was a stage demonstration of how common things just burst into flames.

quote:

Repeated calls to Gutierrez’s cellphone went unanswered. Miami-Dade police and prosecutors are now investigating the episode. Officers seized several frayed e-cigarette batteries as evidence.

Smoking is hazardous to one's health.

Pantalones en fuego!

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:

quote:

Instead, Gutierrez blamed a faulty battery in an e-cigarette, witnesses told the Miami Herald.

I was prepared to blame his cell phone. Contempt of court?

For an accident?

RMD

He was trying to 'prove' that his client's car spontaneously combusted and it wasn't his fault. I kinda think this was a stage demonstration of how common things just burst into flames.

quote:

Repeated calls to Gutierrez’s cellphone went unanswered. Miami-Dade police and prosecutors are now investigating the episode. Officers seized several frayed e-cigarette batteries as evidence.

AHA!

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
AHA!

RMD

Yeah, junior Perry Mason there!