Accused Tells Court He

An RR 2, Jasper man charged with a number of weapons offenses claims he's exempt from Canadian law because of his religious status.

Rodney Wayne King presented a declaration to Ontario Court Justice Peter Griffiths Thursday (August 2nd) proclaiming himself a theocratic state and claiming that he therefore is immune from prosecution.

King maintained he's subject only to God's law as spelled out in the King James version of the Bible and that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case against him.

King, 46 faces charges of unsafe storage of a .22 calibre rifle, possession of a prohibited weapon, hollowed out ammunition and a prohibited oversized ammunition magazine. The charges were laid last December.

The unusual argument was put forward by Brian Logozar, a friend of King's. He read into the record a number of documents and an affidavit prepared by King to support his position as "an ambassador for God of the Kingdom of Heaven" and his entitlement to protection under international law.

He said he also enjoys a different class of citizenship and is not subject to the same laws and statutes as other citizens because his doesn't participate in social programs like the Canada pension plan and unemployment insurance.

Logozar said all relationships are defined by God, and the Bible is the handbook for governing all affairs, a fact recognized in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Where does it say in the criminal code that the Bible takes precedence over the laws of Canada?" Griffiths asked.

Logozar replied King had been charged on behalf of the Queen who is the head of the Church of England and one who has subordinated herself to the will of God.

"Are you saying there are statutes and case law in existence that say an individual can remove himself from the authority of the laws of Canada by unilaterally declaring himself a theocratic state?" asked the judge.

Griffiths gave the defense until today to produce that case law to support "the novel argument."

Meanwhile, assistant Crown attorney John O'Halloran served notice he intends to seek an order referring King for psychiatric assessment.

"His position is not a common one, but it doesn't merit psychiatric testing," replied Logozar.

Griffiths will first rule on whether he has jurisdiction to hear the case before considering the Crown's application.

An Ontario Court judge has rejected a defendant's claim that he's exempt from Canadian law because he's an ambassador of God.

Justice Peter Griffiths dismissed Rodney Wayne King's argument that the court didn't have jurisdiction to hear his case because of his new status.

Griffiths made the ruling Friday (August 3rd) after King couldn't produce a certificate from the minister of foreign affairs proving he was an ambassador and as such immune from prosecution under international treaties.

"I have jurisdiction under the criminal code and the laws of Canada," the judge told King's agent, Brian Logozar, when he questioned the decision. "please be seated. We're not on the open seas right now."

King, 46, of RR 2, Jasper, faces charges of unsafe storage of a .22 calibre rifle, possession of a prohibition weapon, hollowed-out ammunition and a prohibited oversized ammunition magazine. The charges were laid last fall following an incident at his home.

The accused appeared in court Thursday saying he had accepted an appointment as ambassador of the theocratic state of the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore was no longer subject to man's laws.

Assistant Crown attorney John O'Halloran sought to have King sent for a psychiatric assessment, but that motion was also rejected by Griffiths.

O'Halloran questioned the accused's fitness to stand trial, arguing his condition has deteriorated since an earlier assessment last fall that found him fit.

Anyone who thinks that they can opt out of society raises questions about their ability to perceive reality, he said.

But Griffiths said, "the bar is low" for a fitness determination and that he was satisfied King is aware of his situation.

-----Original Message-----
From: Wally Dove <wdove@halhinet.on.ca>
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 11:07 PM
Subject: Case in Brockville

Hi Folks,

This mail is to advise you of an upcomin case in Brockville, Ontario.

Rodney King has made himself an Ambasador of God and is removing himself from the "system".

He needs support and I would like to suggest that this case is extremely important to all of us.

If the judge takes jurisdiction and rules against Rodney, we may have to have the judge arrested.

We need as many people there as possible. Please attend at 10 am if you can. The directions are;

Hope to see you there.
Regards,
Wally Dove,