Facing charges of attempted murder, a 61-year-old Hawaiian man showed up to trial wearing blackface on Monday because he felt the court was treating him “like a Black man.”
Oahu-native Mark Char was found guilty of attempted murder and assault in March following a triple stabbing on the H-1 Freeway back in 2016. He was recently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for second-degree attempted murder, and six years for a second-and third-degree assault.
Char attended the hearing in First Circuit Court in Honolulu with his head completely covered with what appeared to be permanent black marker ink, reports KHNL.
Reading from a written statement, Char addressed what he dubbed as “this kangaroo court” and accused prosecutors and the judge of treating his case without a fair trial “for me trying to protect and defend myself against the attack from three guys.”
According to Char, the court was treating him “like a Black man.”
“Today, the reason why I am like this is because I prepared myself to play my part in your kangaroo court, treating me like a Black man, so today I’m going to be a Black man.”
Authorities said Tuesday that he will be facing further punishment for this stunt.
Staff members at Halawa Correctional Facility reportedly “attempted to convince him to wash his face” before he entered the court but Char refused.
“He will be charged with disobeying several direct orders,” a state Department of Public Safety representative was quoted as saying.
Char, who testified during the earlier hearings that he acted in self-defense, allegedly stabbed one of the victims five times. The victim was then rushed to a hospital in critical condition following the attack.
Featured image via Hawaii News Now
