‘My solicitor changed my plea’: Man backtracks on sex worker assault

A DRUG addict who admitted to beating a sex worker with a wooden furniture leg shouted in court, changed his plea and sacked his legal team on Tuesday.

A DRUG addict claims he was pressured by his lawyer to plead guilty to beating a Melbourne sex worker with a timber furniture leg.

Jiryis Khsheibon, 63, of St Kilda, was due to be sentenced on Tuesday for assaulting the 33-year-old woman in March 2016 after admitting the charges on Friday. He had last week pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, making a threat to kill, and possessing heroin.

But as soon as he entered the dock in the Victorian County Court, Khsheibon shouted he was “not guilty”.

“So everybody knows, my solicitor changed my plea by himself,” he said.

“They want you just to plead guilty ... they said you would get less time.

“It didn’t make sense to me.”

Judge Mark Taft adjourned the case so Khsheibon could apply to change his plea.

“There is a suggestion from the dock that your client has been pressured,” Judge Taft said to counsel.

“I will not proceed to sentence.”

Khsheibon then relaxed: “Thank you, your honour.”

The drama came after Khsheibon pleaded guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Jonathan Manning said the accused and the woman agreed on a sexual service for $100 and returned to his home.

Khsheibon, a long-time drug user, offered the woman ice and heroin, which she accepted, and he also took ice before they had sex.

Afterwards, she repeatedly asked for her money but the accused suggested he had already paid.

He then launched an assault spanning four hours, hitting her multiple times and landing blows with a wooden furniture leg on her head and body.

He also dragged her by the hair, bound her hands and put a bag over her head and tried to strangle her, Mr Manning said.

But defence barrister Ian Polak said his client could not remember the assault and still believed the woman took his money.

According to the Herald Sun, Khsheibon claimed his legal team told him he would serve less time if he was sentenced by Judge Taft, and claimed he did not understand while he was pleading guilty.

Khsheibon will return to court on Wednesday for a directions hearing.