January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
VANCOUVER — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled that a woman charged with recklessly discharging a firearm is fit to stand trial despite her insistence that Jesus Christ would act as her defence lawyer, according to court sources and media reports.
The ruling from a B.C. judge came after a contentious fitness-to-stand-trial hearing in which Crown prosecutors sought to have the woman declared unfit, arguing that her religious delusions prevented her from understanding the nature and purpose of the legal proceedings against her.
Under Canadian criminal law, a person is considered fit to stand trial when they have a sufficient understanding of the charges, the court process, and the ability to communicate with counsel and participate meaningfully in their defence. A Supreme Court of Canada standard notes that fitness hinges on a reality-based understanding of the proceedings and the ability to make and communicate defence decisions — not on whether a person’s beliefs are conventional.
During the hearing, the woman maintained that her legal defence would be guided by her belief that Jesus would represent her in court, a stance that drew both attention and skepticism from legal observers. However, the judge found that while her beliefs may be unconventional, they did not undermine her ability to understand the nature of the trial or the potential consequences of the proceedings.
The case stems from charges that the woman, an Agassiz resident, recklessly discharged a firearm an offence that carries serious legal consequences if convicted. The judge’s decision means the matter will proceed to trial, where evidence and legal arguments will determine her guilt or innocence on the charge.
Legal analysts say the ruling highlights the court’s careful balance between assessing competency to stand trial and recognizing that individuals may hold deeply personal or religious beliefs without automatically being considered unfit. Decisions on fitness do not require that a defendant agree with the legal system but rather that they understand it sufficiently to participate in their defence.
Crown prosecutors indicated they respect the court’s decision and will continue to pursue the case through regular trial proceedings. Defence counsel has not yet publicly commented on the judge’s ruling.