Joseph Mcarthur- Periera made an appearance in Penticton court this morning, Aug. 21, 2019, accused to arson and mischief in attempting to burn the Osoyoos RCMP detachment.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mcarthur-Pereira was found not criminally responsible to due to mental disability on Sept. 12, 2019. He was remanded to a psychiatric facility and under the care of the British Columbia Review Board. 

PENTICTON - An Osoyoos man charged with arson and mischief for allegedly trying to set fire to the Osoyoos RCMP detachment may be pursuing a finding of not criminally responsible due to mental disorder, court heard this morning.

Joseph Manuel Mcarthur-Pereira, 28, appeared in Penticton court via video link from the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam today, Aug. 21. He's been in custody since July 25, 2019, when he was arrested shortly after a fire was started outside the Osoyoos RCMP detachment while two officers were working inside.

Defence lawyer Norm Yates told court a psychiatric report on Mcarthur-Pereira's eligibility for a mental disorder defence was only been received yesterday. He sought a two-week adjournment to review it.

Mcarthur-Pereira then asked court if he could represent himself.

“I’m not okay with sticking here for another couple of weeks while he decides whatever, because the fact is he’s my lawyer and he’s never attempted to contact me… I’ve been in here a month with no bail or nothing,” he told court.

Judge Jane Cartwright told Mcarthur-Pereira he would not be getting out today anyway.

She suggested he speak to Yates about his services or seek a new lawyer.

Yates asked the record to reflect he spoke to Mcarthur-Pereira recently about the report and had told him it was unlikely he would get out today.

“I think in the circumstances I best get off the record,” Yates told court, leaving it open for Mcarthur-Pereira to contact him about continuing to act on his behalf if he wished.

The judge noted Mcarthur-Pereira had been certified by the mental health act, calling him “very vulnerable.”

The judge adjourned the matter for a week. Mcarthur-Pereira is scheduled for a video appearance on Aug. 28.

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