A 70-year-old Scarborough man charged with first degree murder and attempted murder says he wants to represent himself in court, during bizarre proceedings Monday.
In declining legal representation through a Macedonian interpreter, Boris Panovski told Goderich court: “I don’t want to use taxpayer’s money. I want the truth to be told. I trust in God.”
Justice Jeanine Leroy urged Panovski to get a lawyer to help him in court. At one point saying, “If I was charged with murder, I wouldn’t represent myself.”
Panovski was adamant that he represent himself, expressing frustration with his previous duty counsel.
Court heard that disclosure, the crown’s evidence against him, was delivered to the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre on February 12. Panovski says he asked “15 guards” to help him get the disclosure in his hands, but no one has helped him.
Complicating matters even more, Panovski says he can’t read English well and will likely need a Macedonian interpreter to help him read the documents.
Panovski will be back in Goderich court via video on March 12. It’s hoped he’ll have read the Crown’s evidence against him by that time and the case can proceed.
A decision on whether Panovski wants a preliminary inquiry or to simply go straight to trial will be the next step in the case.
Panovski is charged with first degree murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of Don Frigo and wounding of Frigo’s wife, Eva on September 13 at the Hullett Conservation Area, north of Clinton.
All three were at one point participants in the world of bird-dogging, which is a sport based on the training of hunting dogs.
