Florida Stabbing Suspect Rejects Help from ‘Negro’ Public Defender

Thomas Thorpe, 51, appeared before a judge and refused to have a lawyer represent him. “Do you understand what an attorney is and what they do?” asked the judge. “Yes, they screwed us,” Thorpe responded. Thorpe seemed in a hurry as the short hearing progressed, telling the judge he wanted to enter a plea without the assistance of the African-American attorney standing next to him. “I said not guilty — I pleaded not guilty and I don’t want this negro standing next to me,” Thorpe told the judge. “I don’t want a negro standing next to me.

The judge expressed some concerns about Thorpe's mental health and he is now being watched as he sits in jail on attempted first-degree murder charges with no bond.

His next court appearance date has not been set and it's not known if he will have an attorney representing him when he makes that appearance at the Orange County Courthouse.