U.S. citizen charged with death threats targeting Justin Trudeau makes court appearance from London, Ont.
A U.S. citizen charged with threatening death or bodily harm to Justin Trudeau made a virtual court appearance from a London jail Friday.
Jeremy Joseph, 40 — who is living in Sarnia, Ont. — was arrested on Feb. 4, 2023 after Sarnia police were notified of emails containing threats.
He’s charged with uttering threats to cause death related to the prime minister of Canada, citizens of Sarnia, and one count of uttering threats to damage of property (City of Sarnia).
Joseph — representing himself — told the court he worked on Wall Street in New York City, and studied business at Stanford University as well as bioengineering in Seattle and in Houston at Rice University.
The Houston native described himself as a “refugee in Canada” and said he “fled the United States for fear of my life and persecution.”
Jeremy Joseph faces multiple charges including uttering threats to cause death related to the prime minister of Canada. (Source: LinkedIn) He's been living in Sarnia for nearly six months after entering the country in Windsor.
He also faces charges in multiple states south of the border.
Appearing via video in a Sarnia court, Joseph told Justice Kelly Tranquilli that allegations by the attorney general through the U.S. are “riddled with incorrect information.”
“As I go through this extradition process, I think my major concerns are I just don't have a lot of visibility of exactly what's going on,” said Joseph, referring to being in EMDC [Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre]. “I'm learning about new charges in New York when I've been in Canada for the last seven months.”
He also made claims that his bail hearing earlier this month felt like there was collusion between the U.S. and the attorney general.
“I had major concerns because it felt like a script that was being provided directly from the United States,” said Joseph.
He expressed difficulties as a self-represented litigant from inside EMDC claiming he feels like he is operating in a vacuum.
Jeremy Joseph appeared virtually in a Sarnia, Ont. courtroom on March 31, 2023. (File)"I think the concern here is I've asked for duty counsel,” said Joseph.
He added, “I've reached out to the social worker to get into direct contact with the attorney general and have not heard anything back from that. I've asked for legal documentation, rules of evidence, civil court and procedure, the Refugee and Immigration Act, motion templates, even Canadian case law, and I've not yet gotten access to any of those things.”
He's admits to battling mental health challenges after he said his mother was murdered and his identity was stolen by his cousin.
He claims his estate of over $400,000 has been wiped out after “being taken advantage of by lawyers.”
The extradition documents have not yet come in, so this case has been adjourned to April 20.
Kandia Aird, counsel representing the attorney general, has agreed to get Joseph all necessary documents via courier as soon as they receive record of the case.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.

'Torch has been passed': What younger generations need to know about inheriting a family cottage
As more Canadians pass their family cottages down to the next generation, 'major shifts' in the ownership of recreational homes will occur, according to Re/Max. But amid concerns around the cost of housing, some may be wondering whether they can afford to keep that family cottage. Here's what younger generations need to know about inheriting a recreational property and the market today.
Poilievre tries to head off PPC vote as Bernier bets on social conservatives
Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally Conservative supporters ahead of a byelection that Maxime Bernier is hoping will send him back to Parliament. The far-right People's Party of Canada leader lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 federal vote and lost again in the 2021 election.
Canadian Jamal Murray makes a difference in NBA finals game 1
The highlight of Game 1 for Jamal Murray came when he dribbled into the middle, planted his surgically repaired left knee in the paint, made a full clockwise turn, then faded away and swished a mid-range jumper.
Nixing Canadian experience rule spells opportunity for Ontario foreign engineers, workers say
Accessible Community Counselling and Employment Services, a charity that supports internationally trained engineers like Zaitsev, said the dropping of the Canadian experience requirement is a welcome development.
Kyiv defences thwart Russia's 6th air assault in 6 days against Ukraine capital
Ukrainian air defences shot down more than 30 Russian cruise missiles and drones in Moscow's sixth air attack in six days on Kyiv, local officials said Friday. The Ukrainian capital was simultaneously attacked from different directions by Iranian-made Shahed drones and cruise missiles from the Caspian region.
Biden trips after speech addressing U.S. Air Force Academy graduates
U.S. President Joe Biden quipped that he got 'sandbagged' Thursday after he tripped and fell -- but was uninjured -- while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.
Hidden camera discovered in washroom at Gatineau, Que. elementary school
Gatineau police say officers responded to a call from staff at l’école l'Oiseau Bleu on Nelligan Street just after 10 a.m. Friday about a camera found in the washroom.
Movie reviews: 'Spider-Man' a wild pop culture pastiche of visual styles
This week, pop culture critic Richard Crouse reviews new movies: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' 'The Boogeyman,' 'Bones of Crows.'