A lawyer wants the court to rule a Biggar man is Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) for assaulting three people with his vehicle, pointing a firearm at a person, escaping police custody and stealing a vehicle.
Jordy Leschinski, 20, is charged with 19 criminal offences.
On May 11, Saskatoon Legal Aid lawyer Barb Degenstien asked the North Battleford Provincial Court to order the assessment. If someone is deemed NCR by reason of a mental disorder this means they admit the actions but not the crimes. An NCR verdict results in no jail sentence and is as if no crime has been committed.
Crown Prosecutor Loren Klein objected and told the court that the Crown “received very little notice” of the defence’s application.
“Given that, the Crown would appreciate a brief period to consider the application and whether we are consenting, or opposing it.”
Judge Murray Pelletier granted the Crown’s request and the matter was adjourned to May 12.
Leschinski appeared in court today by CCTV. Last week the court ordered a mental health evaluation.
Leschinski was arrested April 18 and taken to the Biggar hospital where he allegedly escaped police custody and stole a vehicle from a residence in Biggar that was known to him. Degenstien told the court today that Leschinski was handcuffed to his bed at the hospital and got out of his handcuffs.
According to Biggar RCMP, on April 18 they received a call shortly before 6 p.m. that Leschinski had allegedly pointed a firearm at a woman before leaving with a female youth in his vehicle. All three were known to each other.
About an hour later police found Leschinski on Highway 14 with the youth inside his truck. Police say Leschinski got out and became a hazard to motorists on Highway 14. Two RCMP officers were there and a third, the Sgt., arrived minutes later.
Degenstien told the court today that Leschinski asked a police officer to shoot him and he tried to get run over by a passing vehicle. The Biggar RCMP Sgt. managed to keep Leschinski safe and prevented him from being hit by oncoming traffic, Degenstien told the court.
Leschinski was taken to Biggar Hospital for treatment of minor self-inflicted injuries. That’s when he allegedly escaped police custody and fled the hospital at about 8:30 p.m. on April 18.
Officers from Rosetown, Warman and Unity RCMP Detachments, as well as Saskatoon Police Air Service and the RCMP Police Dog Services, helped Biggar RCMP locate Leschinski. They found him near Landis shortly after midnight on April 19.
Leschinski is charged with escaping from lawful custody, pointing a firearm at an individual, theft of a Winchester, possession of a Winchester without a license, having a loaded weapon in the back seat of his vehicle, having a weapon dangerous to the public, being in a vehicle knowing there was a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing it was obtained under an offence, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public, handling a firearm in a careless manner, theft of a vehicle, three counts of assault with a weapon (a motor vehicle), driving dangerous to the public, two counts of failing to comply with a no contact order, failing to keep the peace, and failing to comply with an order not to possess firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, Leschinski had a loaded Winchester 94 in the back of his Dodge Ram.
The Crown is proceeding by indictment rather than summary conviction, which is the more serious offence and means the potential of more jail time if convicted.
