Woman who said Jesus would be her defence lawyer is fit to stand trial, B.C. judge rules

A B.C. judge found Denise Angela Norris fit to stand trial on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm despite Crown arguments about psychosis with religious delusions; her next court appearance is a bail hearing set for Jan. 12, 2026.

A British Columbia judge has ruled that Denise Angela Norris is fit to stand trial on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm arising from an incident last June in Agassiz. Crown counsel asked the court to find her unfit because they said she suffers from psychosis with religious delusions. Court-appointed psychiatric reports included statements that she believed Jesus would act as her defence lawyer and that she communicated with him. The judge concluded that, despite those beliefs, Norris understood the nature of the proceedings and the possible consequences of a conviction. Key facts: - Norris is charged with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm related to an interaction in Agassiz in June. - Crown sought a finding of unfitness on grounds of psychosis with religious delusions; psychiatric reports noted she said Jesus would be her defence lawyer and that she hears and sees him. - The judge ruled Norris fit to stand trial and her next scheduled court appearance is a bail hearing on Jan. 12, 2026; a trial date has not been set. Summary: The judge's decision allows the criminal proceedings to continue while noting that Norris's beliefs could affect how she conducts her defence but did not meet the legal threshold for unfitness. The next procedural step is a bail hearing on Jan. 12, 2026, and the timing of a trial remains undetermined at this time.