Judge orders ex-Stamp to court

In his playing days, former CFL running back Jerome Messam was known for his elusive moves on the field.

In court Tuesday, a Calgary judge was less than impressed with the moves of his lawyer.

Provincial court Judge Sean Dunnigan ordered Messam to appear in person in court next week after his Toronto lawyer, Gavin Holder, asked, through an agent, for a two-week delay in the case.

“It’s a bit of a Toronto move, isn’t it?” said Dunnigan, a former Torontonian, after duty counsel Bob Haslam appeared on behalf of Holder and his client to ask for another adjournment in the case.

The judge noted that Messam’s counsel, who has had an agent appear for every previous court appearance, was informed that the case was supposed to be moved forward at Tuesday’s proceeding.

Crown lawyer Lindsay Bedier said assigned prosecutor Janice Walsh has also had difficulty reaching the Toronto representative for Messam.

Following a brief adjournment, Haslam returned to say Holder could have the case dealt with next Thursday, prompting Dunnigan to order his client to appear in person.

Messam is charged with voyeurism in connection with an incident in November 2016 in Calgary, when he was a member of the Stampeders.

He was released from the Saskatchewan Roughriders when the charge came to light in July.

Calgary police said the charge “relates to the alleged videotaping of a consensual sexual encounter with a victim. It is alleged the videotaping was done without the person’s consent.”

After Messam was charged and released by the Roughriders, the league said it will not register a contract for him should any team attempt to sign him.