‘I’ll take it to the Supreme Court of Canada’
Man accused of stabbing fellow inmate fighting to withdraw guilty plea
Another week, another court appearance for the man accused of stabbing a fellow HMP inmate.
Justin Jordan, who is attempting to withdraw a guilty plea he entered to the charge last fall, attended court in St. John’s by video from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary Thursday. He was told in no uncertain terms that Legal Aid had canceled his representation at his own request.
The court had originally been set to hear Jordan’s application in April, but his lawyer, Jennifer Curran, had expressed concerns with his health and asked for a psychiatric assessment. The judge declined, pointing out Jordan had already been assessed twice and had been found fit for trial, and postponed the case to give Curran more time to get instructions from him. Jordan insisted to the judge that he wasn’t fit for court, explaining he had been taken off his medication in prison.
When Jordan’s case was called again earlier this month, Jordan
had announced he was firing Curran, saying, “I’m telling my lawyer what I want to do and she won’t do it.” At the same time, Curran told the court Jordan had already been issued a formal cancellation notice. Jordan said
he had no choice but to represent himself on the applicationdespite the judge advising him to get a lawyer – and the hearing was set for last Friday.
However, when Friday rolled around, Jordan told the court
he wanted Legal Aid representation again, and wanted to know the reasons why his certificate had been canceled. The judge at that time scheduled the case to be called again Thursday, asking for clarification from Legal Aid.
On Thursday, Judge David Orr offered to set a date for Jordan to be sentenced.
“No, no, no, no sentencing,” Jordan said. “I don’t want to take this to sentencing. I’ll take it to the Supreme Court of Canada.”
Last week, Jordan said he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea because he was high on cocaine when he entered it. At his most recent appearance, he said his lawyer had entered the plea for him even though he didn’t agree to it.
“I’m in custody now 14 months because Legal Aid is refusing to listen to what I have to say,” Jordan told the judge.
“Well, I’m going to set a date for you to give that evidence,” replied Judge Orr, rescheduling the hearing for July 30 and advising Jordan to file documents with the court before then.
Jordan is alleged to have stabbed Trent Butt, who is awaiting a first-degree murder trial in connection with the death of his five year-old daughter, Quinn, during a recreation period at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary a year ago. Butt was not seriously injured.