Drug addict causes dramatic scene inside County Court

There have been dramatic scenes in the County Court, as a drug addict was due to be sentenced over the violent assault of a St Kilda sex worker.

Jiryis Khsheibon yelled, “not guilty” as he was led into the dock.

The 63-year-old refused to be silenced, insisting his solicitor changed his plea.

He said for the past 14 months he’d pleaded not guilty.

Mr Khsheibon maintains he paid a 33-year-old woman the $100 they agreed to, before he took her back to his St Kilda home in March last year.

He’s accused of subjecting her to a four-hour long beating using a furniture leg when she asked for her money, tying up her hands and putting a bag over her head as he tried to strangle her.

He’s maintained he has no memory of the attack.

County Court Justice Mark Taft acknowledged there was a suggestion the accused had been pressured to plead guilty and adjourned the hearing to tomorrow.

– Stefanie Waclawik