A man accused of multiple counts of sexual assault who once told a judge to shut up is trying to fire yet another lawyer.
Darren Ross Noddle is accused of four counts of sexual assault involving two women.
One count involves a woman in an alleged April 16 event. Noddle is also charged with breaking and entering in connection with an incident that day.
Three of the counts involve one woman on May 9, 2022. He is also charged with unlawful confinement of that woman.
Noddle appeared before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Eugene Jamieson on Oct. 9.
Lawyer Rene Alain, appearing for veteran defence lawyer Glen Orris, asked Jamieson for a one-week adjournment.
“Counsel will be withdrawing from the record,” Noddle immediately said, appearing via video from a jail room where he sat clutching a sheaf of papers.
“I don’t know anything about this,” Alain told the judge, adding that Orris and fellow defence lawyer Robin Young were due to go and speak to Noddle the coming weekend.
“I’m seeking other counsel,” Noddle said.
As Crown prosecutor Gail Barnes told Jamieson, Noddle firing a lawyer is nothing new.
She said the spectre of a so-called Jordan application has been raised by Noddle. That’s an application to have a case dismissed because it has not been heard in sufficient time under ceilings set by the Supreme Court of Canada. Stays of proceedings are possible if a case hits a ceiling of 18 months for those tried in the provincial court and 30 months for cases in superior courts.
The first appearance on the May 9, 2022 allegations was May 10, 2022. The first appearance on the April 16, 2022 allegations was Sept. 26, 2022.
Noddle has remained in custody since September 2022.
Since then, he has had 12 lawyers. His appearances have been presided over by 43 judges or justices of the peace, over 79 court dates.
Noddle’s appearance before Jamieson was different from his last two before judges who had his microphone muted due to disruptions and Noddle talking over people.
'Shut up, Your Honour'
Noddle has previously tried a judge's patience.
In September 2022, Judge Bonnie Craig tried to keep a hearing on track despite the interruptions and asked him to be quiet.
“Shut up, Your Honour,” Noddle responded.
Lawyer John Turner characterized Noddle as a difficult client.
“Mr. Turner told me he would see me before today’s matter,” Noddle said. “That didn’t happen.”
Turner had already told the court Noddle had refused to speak with him. Noddle then said something about internationally protected persons.
Several times, the judge asked him to stop talking, eventually saying she would mute him.
Noddle then said something about high treason and the right to remain silent.
“You’re not helping, Mr. Noddle,” Craig said.
