Serial killer from the 1990s was attacked by one of his victim's sons in court

For several years in the mid 90s, Alfred Gaynor preyed on unsuspecting women, murdering and raping them.

Between 1995 and 1998, he killed nine women, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in the history of the state of Massachusetts.

This is what happened when one of his victims' son saw him in court:

Eventually, he was brought to justice for his heinous crimes after his DNA was found on the bodies of two of his victims, Rosemary Downs and Joyce Dickerson-Peay.

Ms Dickerson's frozen body was found near an old restaurant three weeks after the mother-of-two, 37, disappeared from her home.

Ms Downs, 43, was found naked and dead in her apartment.

Gaynor was quickly arrested and then put on trial for their murders.

However, during one of the court hearings, Eric Downs, Ms Downs' son, attacked Gaynor, charging at him and punching him.

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In a video from the trial, which has been shared on social media, Mr Downs can be seen sitting in the gallery as Gaynor stands in front of the judge a few feet away.

He then suddenly rushes over to the killer and punches him in the head before grabbing hold of him and throwing him over the railing.

Guards eventually manage to get hold of the grieving son and pull him away.

Mr Downs and two others, his relative Robert Hill and Gaynor's sister Kathy, were later charged with assault and disorderly conduct.

They were released on bail and allowed to be present at Gaynor's future hearings, though they were ordered to identify themselves with court staff upon arrival.

Gaynor was later convicted of four murders, with police also linking him to the deaths of Loretta Daniels and JoAnn Thomas.

And, in 2000, he was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.

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However, almost a decade later, Gaynor pleaded guilty to a further five murders, which he admitted to as part of a plea bargain.

He admitted to murdering Vera Hellums, Jill Ann Ermellini, Robin Atkins, Yvette Torres, and finally Amy Smith, who was murdered in 1996.

He confessed to killing Ms Smith, who was just 20 years old at the time, on the basis that his nephew Paul Fickling, who was serving a life sentence for the crime, was given a new trial.

In 2010, Fickling was given a new trial and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 14 already served, while Gaynor received a further five life sentences.