Crown considers psychiatric assessment in mischief case

Warning: This story contains graphic language

A man who spray painted six religious buildings, the Saskatoon police headquarters and a Pride mural at the University of Saskatchewan since the beginning of May will be held in custody until at least Friday.

A bail hearing was not held on Thursday for 36-year-old Amir Bozorgmehr, who asked to run his own hearing , after the Crown expressed concern over his mental state. Judge Robert Jackson agreed and adjourned the case to allow the Crown time to look into requesting a psychiatric assessment.

Bozorgmehr faces eight mischief charges in connection with three separate incidents this month. Six of the mischief charges are “for reasons of bias, prejudice, or hate based on religion.”

On May 3, he was arrested for allegedly spray painting a pride mural at the U of S. He was released on conditions that prohibited him from returning to campus.

A week later, he was arrested for allegedly spraying “The only hope for a sodomite is repentance” on St. Andrew’s College at the U of S, Mcclure United Church and Grosvenor Park United Church.

He was released again, this time on conditions that he not possess spray paint, according to court information. Bozorgmehr was arrested for a third time on Wednesday for allegedly throwing rocks at the Saskatoon police station and spraying it with orange spray paint. He told police he vandalized three more churches: Saskatoon Unitarians, Emmanuel Anglican and St. George’s Anglican, police said in a media release.

Crown prosecutor Tamara Denluck said the RCMP executed a mental health warrant on Bozorgmehr in April, and the Crown is concerned about comments he made to officers and the court, calling himself a prophet and stating “Jesus Christ is my lawyer.”

Appearing by phone on Thursday, the accused consented to undergo a mental health assessment, but assured the court there is nothing wrong with his mental health.