Convicted hate-monger fires lawyer; sentencing for Your Ward News delayed
TORONTO — A convicted hate-monger who was due to be sentenced on Friday has fired his lawyer and will instead try to raise a constitutional challenge before he is sentenced in mid-July.
In an interview on Thursday, James Sears, editor of Your Ward News, said he plans to raise arguments about ineffective help from his lawyer, Dean Embry. Sears said Embry refused to ask certain questions or call any experts.
“I’m beginning to believe this was all predetermined and my own lawyer threw the case,” Sears said. “Something just didn’t sit right.”
Embry, who unsuccessfully defended Sears against charges of wilfully promoting hatred against women and Jews, confirmed he was no longer acting for his client. He refused to discuss what might have prompted the situation citing solicitor-client privilege. The lawyer did deny doing anything adverse to Sears’ interests.