KINGSTON, Ont. - The mental demons plaguing troubled TV personality Tony Rosato appeared to be on display in an Ontario courtroom Wednesday when the former "SCTV'' and "Saturday Night Live'' cast member loudly accused his lawyer of putting his life in danger.
Shortly before Rosato's criminal harassment trial was scheduled to break for lunch, the actor and comedian raised his hand to get the attention of defence lawyer Daniel Brodsky.
When Brodsky leaned into the prisoner's box, Rosato, 53, could be overheard asking him, "Are you trying to get me murdered?''
It wasn't immediately apparent what a visibly puzzled Brodsky had done to agitate his client. "Someone's trying to murder me in this room,'' Rosato continued.
Rosato has been diagnosed with Capgras's syndrome -- a mental condition that's to blame for his irrational belief that his wife and daughter have been replaced by impostors.
Wednesday's bizarre episode capped off an unusual morning in which the judge presiding over Rosato's trial admonished both lawyers for what he apparently considers a lack of civility.
Superior Court Justice Gordon Thomson asked the lawyers to review four pages of professional behaviour guidelines during the first morning break.
"Let's play by the rules here,'' Thomson told the lawyers. "This is not jungle court. This is a court of law.''
The document outlines more than a dozen basic rules of conduct, including avoiding "making faces, audible comments, gesticulations or other body language'' and not "bickering'' with an opposing lawyer.
Brodsky has repeatedly complained that assistant Crown attorney Priscilla Christie has not returned his phone calls and messages.
The trial has thus far been bogged down in procedural matters, mostly involving a set of absent transcripts from earlier hearings.
Thompson, who at times appears frustrated by the dispute between the two lawyers, said the court doesn't need any more delays.
Rosato has been held without bail for more than two years on a charge of allegedly harassing his estranged 30-year-old wife, Leah.
