Canadian Judge Rejects Biblical Verses As Defense To Assault Charges

In the Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a provincial judge has convicted Cornelius Jones on a number of counts of assault, as well as of uttering threats, resisting arrest and failing to appear in court.  Yesterday's Halifax Chronicle Herald , as well as CBC News, report that Jones, representing himself, defended against the charges of assaulting his wife and his 3-year old daughter by quoting Biblical verses that he says call for wives to submit to their husbands, and for disciplining children with the rod.  The judge urged Jones to retain counsel to represent him at the sentencing stage, telling Jones: "If Jesus Christ was here I would be recommending that he have a lawyer." Jones' brother told the court that he believes Jones needs psychiatric held, but says Jones has refused help from his family.