A BALLARAT courtroom has been closed today after a violent clash between a prisoner and police.
Two police members were acting as court security for the committal hearing of Lloyd Murrell, 41, and Nono Ngaa, 31.
But minutes into today's proceedings, four more police members were called to keep watch after Murrell appeared distressed in the dock.
As a police detective was giving evidence, he stopped to ask Magistrate Michelle Hodgson to stop Murrell from displaying "threatening" behavior across the courtroom.
Ms Hodgson said she hadn't observed anything, but stood down so the parties could resolve the situation.
As she was leaving the courtroom, Murrell reacted violently to police attempts to restrain him and began thrashing around in the dock.
All six police members in the courtroom raced to the dock to help restrain 41 year old.
After several minutes, police had Murrell in a headlock and bent him over the dock's rail, in order to place handcuffs on him.
As he was being lined up with the doorway by the police group, Murrell pushed off the door with his legs, forcing police members backwards into the seats.
Eventually, all six members managed to force Murrell through the doorway towards the cells with the aid of capsicum spray.
Murrell's family left the courtroom, while Ngaa's family urged their son not to interfere.
Ngaa did not get involved in the struggle.
The courtroom is now closed as blood is cleaned from the dock area.
The committal hearing is expected to resume later today.
The pair stand accused of conspiring to commit two armed robberies.
JDs sportsbar and the Gold Shop on Lydiard Street were said to be the targets of the alleged plot.
