A man charged in connection with a six-hour standoff with police that ended with a house fire last month says he wants to represent himself in court, and would like his case to proceed as soon as possible.
Justin Wiseman, 26, made a court appearance in St. John’s Thursday morning via videolink from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. Speaking politely and addressing Judge Jackie Brazil as “Ma’am,” Wiseman said he doesn’t yet have a lawyer, since he’s waiting to hear back from Legal Aid.
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Local man involved in standoff faces charges
He said he was hoping to set a date to enter pleas on his nine charges, whether he has representation or not.
“I want to move this forward as soon as possible,” Wiseman said. “There are certain charges that I’m going to defend myself on, anyway, so if someone could tell me how to get disclosure…”
Brazil advised Wiseman to get advice from Legal Aid on how to proceed, and set his next court appearance for May 3.
Wiseman has been in custody since March 13, the day of the standoff with police at a home on Jersey Avenue in Mount Pearl. Wiseman, who had been out of jail for about two weeks at that point, was wanted on a warrant for violating his parole, and police had received information he was at the residence.
Wiseman refused to come out, though he did speak to police from the front doorway, at one point telling them he’d be out after he had a cigarette.
Three women left the home over the next few hours and, after the last one exited, police officers noticed the house was on fire. They stormed it and arrested Wiseman, who was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Though he went back to jail for the parole violation, Wiseman wasn’t charged with anything new until two weeks ago, when the RNC laid charges of arson and possessing a weapon — a knife — in relation to the standoff; break and entry into the Kelsey Drive liquor store outlet; and an armed robbery at a Marie’s Mini Mart store in Mount Pearl, during which he allegedly wore a mask and carried a knife and a hammer. Those incidents took place on the same day.
Wiseman was also charged with breaking into an Ultramar location on Bay Bulls Road on March 2, and having possession of a stolen vehicle in the three days leading up to the standoff.
Twitter: @tara_bradbury
