MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Curtis Keller is on trial for a 2008 Germantown home invasion, but he won't be seeing much of the trial. He's already serving 240 years in prison and right before this trial, he attacked his own lawyer.
Every time news cameras are in court, Keller acts up. He at first refused to show up Tuesday for his trial, but the judge ordered him to appear.
Two armed guards and three deputies surrounded Keller as he was forced, reluctantly, into the courtroom with no jurors present.
One guard was positioned between Keller and his lawyer, Mark Messler. Keller attacked his lawyer on March 26 during a private meeting. When he swung, the lawyer ducked and Keller hit his shoulder. Keller was immediately subdued by guards.
When his trial began the next morning, his seat was empty.
Judge Chris Craft was told Keller was refusing everything and did not want to come to court.
Messler stated, "At this point, because he's not wanting to communicate with me in any way, I have no problem with him being brought up."
Keller, who wears a shock bracelet, complained about the fairness of the trial.
"Ain't nothing fair about this," he told the judge. "Mr. Keller, I'm not talking to you about whether or not the trial's fair, I know the trial's fair. I'm giving you the fairest trial I can with you acting a fool," Judge Craft replied.
Keller has gone through several lawyers; now he claims Messler has a conflict of interest.
"Any conflicts you have with your lawyer, you are creating those problems," the judge told Keller. "You're making statements about this stuff - you held up this sign 'massive corruption in courts' - I'm not going to listen to those lies. I'm not going to talk to you about those lies."
Keller still refused to stay in court. He is charged with 18 counts, including aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Curtis Keller was sentenced to 240 years behind bars in February for a May 2010 home invasion when he kicked in the door of a Collierville home, demanded money and held two adults and two children hostage with a gun.
