Penticton

A sentencing for a BC man turned into a cry for help from the accused in a Penticton court room on Wednesday.

Roger Badour was appearing by video for a disposition on charges including willfully obstructing a police officer and possession of a firearm, when he told the court his life was in danger.

Badour who is currently housed at North Fraser Pretrial Centre, said he had been trying to reach his lawyer, James Pennington, for 10 days because his life was in jeopardy there.

"I've got an inmate telling me I am dead meat, who is going to make me a shank. I just want to get away, I do not want to go that route. There have been three deaths here, I do not want to be the fourth one," he told those gathered in the courtroom.

At one point he lifted up his shirt to show bruises, caused by being punched at North Fraser, he said.

As recently as July, a homicide investigation was underway at the institution, after an inmate was found dead in a cell,  according to previous news reports.

Pennington responded by telling Judge Gregory Koturbash he wanted to move him out of the institution because of his problems.

"We have to get him out of North Fraser, plain and simple," he said. "But it is easier to get ahold of someone in North Africa than in North Fraser."

Koturbash said he could not address the security issue, but could recommend he be moved to Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre to facilitate contact with his lawyer.

The disposition was adjourned to next week, so Badour could appear by video from Kamloops.

The charges stem from his arrest last November in Penticton. He is also facing a first degree murder charge in the death of Gisele Duckham, of Princeton. Her body was found in her home following the Penticton arrest.

His preliminary inquiry is slated to start Sept. 19 in Penticton.