walkitout: (Default)
Nella Acceber ([personal profile] walkitout) wrote2011-07-28 03:38 pm

FLDS, Warren Jeffs

Warren Jeffs has fired his lawyers (apparently again). Attempts by his lawyers to get the evidence from the raid excluded failed. Warren Jeffs intends to represent himself.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52279831-78/jeffs-represent-trial-assault.html.csp

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/28/us-texas-polygamist-trial-idUSTRE76R5ND20110728

Since the raid evidence (including DNA) is in, on one level, it seems pretty easy to predict how this is going to turn out.

On another level, however, I feel that this is the point at which, if this were a genre novel, and I were blogging about it, I would say, "Antics ensue". From the Reuters coverage, Jeffs refused to enter a plea, so the court recorded "Not guilty". And quotes from Jeffs include:

""My counsel doesn't have the full understanding of the facts and are unable to assist in my defense," Jeffs told the court in a slow, halting voice as he explained his move to fire his counsel.

"I have trained my defense, but they were unable to do what I said. I am presenting the need for true justice to be presented, and for the truth to come out.""

If this were a novel, that sounds like the point at which the character admits to doing what they were thought to have done, but heads out on a deranged rant about how it was somehow sacred/spiritual/justified. Wonder how much of that he'll get to engage in as part of the trial?