During the US presidential election process last year, the perpetrator who attempted to assassinate then-Republican candidate Donald Trump on a golf course attempted to self-harm in court immediately after the jury's guilty verdict.

According to the Associated Press and other sources, Ryan Routh was found guilty by a jury on the 23rd (local time) in a trial held at the US District Court in Florida.

As the jury exited, Routh, who was in the courtroom, grabbed a pen and attempted to stab himself in the neck. Security officers intervened and then escorted him out of the courtroom, according to the Associated Press and others.

Routh's daughter, Sarah, screamed, "Dad, I love you. Don't do anything. I'll get you out. You didn't hurt anyone," she cried.

Routh was indicted on charges including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and possessing a firearm with a serial number removed. The jury found him guilty on all charges.

However, Routh argued in his closing statement that he was not guilty, stating, "It's hard to believe a crime was committed if the trigger wasn't pulled."

When asked by reporters at a UN General Assembly meeting in New York that day about his thoughts on Routh's guilty verdict, President Trump replied, "Justice has been served."

He added, "We cannot allow that to happen. We cannot allow that to happen to a president, or to any individual," and expressed gratitude to "the judge, the jury, and everyone involved in that case."

Routh was indicted for attempting to assassinate then-candidate Trump on September 15th of last year at the 'Trump International Golf Club' in West Palm Beach, Florida.

At the time, he had not actually pulled the trigger on Trump, but he had aimed the barrel of a rifle equipped with a scope towards the interior of the golf course. A Secret Service agent discovered this, fired a shot, and Routh dropped the gun and fled before being arrested.

Routh, arrested on charges of attempted assassination of Trump. Reuters Yonhap News. 

Yonhap News