Lawyer On Stand Vs. Accused Gunman

A man who was videotaped shooting a lawyer outside a courthouse had a psychotic breakdown, his lawyer argued Tuesday as the prosecution countered the attack was calculated and driven by revenge.

William Strier, 66, is charged with attempted murder for shooting probate attorney Gerald Curry in October 2003. He faces a maximum sentence of life plus 25 years in prison if convicted.

The incident was caught on video by TV camera operators who were at the courthouse to cover a hearing in the murder case involving actor Robert Blake.

The tape has been played for the jury twice already, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes.

"This is not your everyday shooting. Something is amiss," said defense lawyer Arna Zlotnick.

The defense attorney said Strier had suffered a psychotic breakdown caused in part by a drug he took for lingering back pain from a car accident.

Strier spent his day in court on Tuesday on a hospital gurney, and Zlotnick said he is still suffering from back problems. She said the trial, expected to last several weeks, would be conducted in segments of just three hours a day because of her client's back problems.

Deputy District Attorney James Falco told jurors the real reason Strier shot Curry was because he was upset about the outcome of a court hearing over the management of a trust.

Falco said a cameraman heard Strier say after the shooting, "That's what he gets for taking my money."

Curry had been representing Evelyn Murphy, who had been named trustee for a $100,000 settlement Strier received after he was hit by a car.

Strier was unhappy with Murphy's management, Falco said.

Court records show that on the day of the shooting, a judge had ordered Strier to pay fees to Curry and Murphy and had ruled that Murphy did not mismanage the trust.

Defense lawyers contend that Strier was in desperate need of surgery for his back problems, but the money for the operation was being held up by the trust, said Hughes.

Curry also testified Tuesday, saying Strier approached him and asked who he was.

"Then I remember hearing a very loud pop or a bang," Curry said. "I reacted instinctively and went down on the ground on all fours."

Curry said he got behind a tree to try to protect himself as

Prosecutors say that while Strier may not have known Curry before the attack, he'd planned it in advance and was tipped off, Hughes said.

"A phone call was made to (a) cell phone found in the shoulder bag from a pay phone on the third floor of the civil court in Van Nuys (Calif.)," Falco told jurors.

Curry, 55, recovered from bullet wounds to his neck, arms and shoulder.

Falco said Strier didn't stop shooting until he'd emptied a two-shot revolver and a five-shot revolver.

When he finished, Strier began to calmly walk away as Curry sought help. A reserve sheriff's deputy then ran up and tackled Strier.