Michael Gordon Jackson, who is on trial for violating a custody order for allegedly kidnapping his daughter in late 2021 to prevent her from getting a coronavirus vaccine, took the stand Monday.
Jackson, 53, who is being represented at the trial, is also the defense’s first witness.
He began his testimony by admitting that he was “nervous.”
“Through the evidence and testimony presented last week, I fully believe that the Crown has already proven my case,” Jackson said in his opening statement.
Mr Jackson described to the jury a series of events that began well before November 2021, and described his divorce from his ex-wife and the mother of his daughter as “terrible”.
“When the marriage broke down, it wasn’t good. Over the years, things got more complicated through the courts,” he added.
According to the couple’s custody order issued at the time of the alleged incident, the then-7-year-old girl’s mother had primary custody of the couple’s child.
The order says the mother has the final say over her daughter’s health and education, but must consult the father before making any decisions.
“When COVID-19 came out, I was confused,” Jackson told the court. “And as a father, my concern was that [my daughter] Become infected with the new coronavirus. ”
Jackson testified that he began researching the coronavirus and vaccines on the Internet and YouTube.
“I couldn’t have my 7-year-old daughter injected with something like that,” he said. “Things got even more desperate for me.”
According to Jackson’s testimony, he spent eight months trying to talk to his ex-wife about vaccinating their children.
The mother testified last week that she has not yet decided whether to vaccinate her child.
“We were waiting for an announcement from the government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority,” she said.
Jackson added that it was his hope to use the court system to do so.
“The court system is extremely biased against vaccines and fathers,” he argued.
Jackson then described a court hearing in which the mother’s attorney argued that she had denied a request to delay the child’s vaccination in order to leave the decision to a judge.
“It created a sense of urgency. [in me]” Jackson said. “I felt [they] They would take her in and vaccinate her. ”
He felt there was “no remedy in court” and went into hiding after the November 2021 hearing.
“My intention was not to disappear for the rest of my life,” Jackson added. “I felt like I had to do it.”
Jackson said she withheld her child from receiving the vaccine.
“I was imagining [the mother] He will drive her to the clinic,” he added.
911 report
Two 911 calls were made in court as part of Jackson’s defense starting Dec. 1, 2021, after which Jackson went into complete hiding with the couple’s children.
Jackson said it was to show the fear he had when dealing with Carnduff RCMP.
During the call, Jackson claimed that RCMP were attempting to enter his home, where he and the couple’s daughter were at the time.
The judge ruled that nothing Jackson said during the call should be admitted as evidence by the jury, but rather to give the jury an idea of Jackson’s thought process at the time of the incident.
In the call, Jackson claimed that her life and that of her child were in danger from the police.
“I’m afraid [Carnduff RCMP] I’m going to do something,” Jackson told the dispatcher.
The dispatcher then asked you to confirm that you did not wish to speak to members of that detachment.
“No,” Jackson replied. “I don’t.”
jury letter
During Monday morning’s proceedings, the jury took a break so Jackson could explain to the judge why he played the 911 tape.
While the argument was in progress, a deputy sheriff brought a piece of paper into the room and handed it to Judge Heather McMillian-Brown.
The document was then given to Mr. Jackson’s amicus curiae, Mr. Brady Knight, then to Attorney General Zoe Kim-Zegelaar, and then to Mr. Jackson himself on the witness stand.
Judge McMillian-Brown said the note was from a juror and referred to Mr Allan, a supporter of Mr Jackson, “about his physical appearance”.
Alan, known in court as “Mackenzie’s friend,” sat next to Jackson during the trial and helped take notes.
He does not practice as a legal advisor.
When Allan returned from his short vacation, he said he had not returned to his normal position and Jackson was asked not to return to court.
The judge asked the jury not to take anything from Allan’s actions regarding Jackson’s testimony or credibility.
Even more in the future…
https://regina.ctvnews.ca/a-sense-of-urgency-sask-man-accused-of-abducting-daughter-calls-himself-to-the-stand-during-trial-1.6847766
