Redmond O'Neal, the only son of actors Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett, appeared in court Thursday to face charges stemming from an alleged week-long crime spree in 2018. O'Neal, 41, has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial after his case was delayed for years. He watched new video evidence presented in court depicting his encounter at a Venice, California cafe.
The footage from May 2018 shows O'Neal entering a cafe and approaching two employees, Samantha Cline and a coworker. According to Cline's testimony, O'Neal initially asked for a coffee sample before the situation escalated. The video showed O'Neal punching a display case, scattering coffee cup covers and straws, and then brandishing a knife as he moved behind the counter where Cline was standing.
Cline testified that she was wary of O'Neal upon his entry, noting he appeared to be looking at the tip jar. She recounted him pulling a knife from his pocket and approaching her. "I thought to myself, 'I don't want to die in this moment,'" Cline stated in court. The knife blade was described as a couple of inches long. O'Neal eventually dropped the weapon and left the cafe as other customers entered. Cline was uncertain if anything was stolen during the incident.
O'Neal faces multiple charges, including one count of felony attempted murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and second-degree robbery. Prosecutors allege that O'Neal stabbed actor Seth Folkerson multiple times, causing a traumatic brain injury. He is also accused of assaulting actor Kenneth Fox with a glass bottle while using homophobic slurs, and robbing a 7-Eleven convenience store at knifepoint.
If convicted of the attempted murder charge, O'Neal could face a life sentence. Prosecutors have further alleged that the attempted murder and one assault charge were willful, deliberate, and premeditated.
O'Neal's case has been pending since his 2018 arrest, with his trial being paused in 2019 after a judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial, unable to assist in his defense. He spent the last three and a half years at Patton State Hospital, a psychiatric facility. A judge ruled last year that O'Neal had regained competency, allowing the criminal proceedings to move forward.
In addition to the serious charges, O'Neal faces accusations of battery, making criminal threats, brandishing a knife, and possession of heroin and methamphetamine. At least six alleged victims have been named in an amended criminal complaint.
Defense attorney Dana Cole indicated plans to call a forensic psychiatrist to testify. O'Neal is currently under a conservatorship, managed by Mela Murphy, a longtime friend and former hairdresser of his late mother, Farrah Fawcett. Murphy, who was present in court and provided O'Neal with a clean shirt, expressed hope for a resolution that would allow him to be released under supervision, considering time served.