’I have a lawyer. His name is Jesus,’ sex offender tells court

A man convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl at a beach in the University of B.C. area fired his third lawyer on Friday, then claimed he was represented by Jesus Christ and forced the adjournment of his sentencing hearing.

The Vancouver court appearance of David Alan Lessor featured some sharp exchanges between the sex offender and the trial judge, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Miriam Gropper.

After Lessor had discharged his lawyer, Eric Warren, the judge advised him that it was a serious matter and his liberty was at stake, and urged him to get another lawyer for his own good.

The judge said she didn’t want to hear the reasons why he fired his lawyer, but Lessor loudly insisted it was his right to do so.

“It is my right to defend myself in this courtroom,” Lessor said. “You cannot take that right away from me. It is my right by law.”

“You’re going to listen to me today, sir,” the judge replied. “What happens between you and your current lawyer, your former lawyer, whatever, is a matter between you and your lawyer.”

When the judge pressed him to say whether he wanted to get a new lawyer, Lessor said: “I have a lawyer. His name is Jesus Christ and he’s representing me in this courtroom today. And he’s going to speak truly today and going to address this court today, providing you give me that opportunity.”

When Lessor complained he hadn’t got a fair trial and demanded the charges be stayed, the judge told him she didn’t have the authority to stay any charges or review the conviction, adding it was a matter he could take up with the B.C. Court of Appeal.

Lessor warned the judge that what she said and what Crown counsel Kristin Bryson said was “being heard by all of heaven. I’m going to strongly advise you that my God will send his angels to deliver me from your hands. So let’s proceed.”

The judge said she would proceed and asked Bryson to begin giving her submissions on sentencing, but Lessor again objected.

“I think we should stand down,” he said. “This isn’t right. I need to talk to a lawyer about an appeal.”

The judge suggested an adjournment to give Lessor a chance to get counsel. The matter was adjourned until Thursday.

The Crown is seeking a two-year jail term for Lessor, who was convicted in August of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl at a University Endowment Lands beach on Canada Day 2014.