The convict son of shot Alabama judge Judge Johnny Hardwick has been charged with his attempted murder — accused of repeatedly stabbing and shooting him in the face.
Khalfani Hardwick, 36, made his first court appearance Tuesday after allegedly shooting his father, presiding judge of Montgomery County’s 15th Judicial Circuit, inside his Montgomery home Saturday.
The son was initially charged with first-degree domestic violence and possessing a firearm when forbidden to do so — but on Tuesday prosecutors announced there was enough evidence for the upgraded attempted murder charge, WSFA reported.
Hardwick allegedly stabbed his dad multiple times in the face — and then also shot him in the face, before fleeing, AL.com reported, citing court records released Monday.
The elder Hardwick current condition was not immediately available.
Khalfani was having trouble finding an attorney and all the circuit judges recused themselves due to his father’s ties to the court system, according to WSFA.
But a judge with the 19th Judicial Circuit took over the case and granted him an attorney from that circuit, the outlet reported.
Montgomery County DA Daryl Bailey said he had no reason not to prosecute the case.
“We’re going to handle this case like we would any other case, especially, a case of this type of violent nature. We’re going to pursue it and do what we normally do,” he told WSFA.
Police found Khalfani’s abandoned vehicle on Trotman Road and located him a short time later on US 231, where he was taken into custody, according to AL.com.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree assault in a 2014 shooting for which he was initially charged with attempted murder.
Khalfani shot a man in the back of the head and “left him for dead,” according to court documents cited by AL.com.
He received a three-year suspended sentence with three years of probation and petitioned for an early release after 19 months, according to the outlet.
The suspect graduated from Alabama State University with a degree in accounting while on probation and was offered a job – but he could not attend a CPA certification class while on probation, AL.com reported.
“He has accepted his punishment for his actions an embraced the opportunity to better himself,’” according to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, the outlet said.
The state Attorney General’s Office opposed Khalfani’s request, noting that the parole board requires all violent probationers to serve at least 24 months before consideration of early termination.
“The defendant entered a guilty plea to assault in the second degree for shooting the victim in the back of the head and leaving him for dead, which is absolutely a crime of violence,’’ the AG’s office said, AL.com reported.
A circuit judge reportedly granted the early release on Nov. 5, 2019.
Judge Hardwick, who has served on the 15th Judicial Circuit since 2001, was named the president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Court Judges last August.
The 1973 graduate of Alabama State University helped spearhead the 50-year reunion of his college graduating class, which made a more than $250,000 donation to their alma mater, AL.com reported.
His son is being held in jail with a bond set at $15,000.