Sovereign Citizen David Michael Burton in court for failing to state full name

Shouting could be heard from outside a Sunshine Coast courtroom as a Sovereign Citizen unleashed on a magistrate, calling himself a living man under “God and Jesus Christ”.

A Sunshine Coast courtroom descended into chaos on Monday after a sovereign citizen began laying into a Magistrate, calling himself “a living man” and asking where “his jury” was.

Currimundi man David Michael Burton, 50, appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 13 for one charge of contravening a police direction.

But Burton, who told the court he had autism, did not enter a plea and began shouting at Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist after he was asked if he understood the charge.

He told the court he was a “beneficiary of the David Michael Burton trust” and “a living human being, a soul and a man”.

He then accused the court of denying him a support person at the bar table, given he had a disability.

“I’m entitled to a McKenzie friend, anti-discrimination and human rights,” he shouted.

Mr Stjernqvist asked him if he identified as a sovereign citizen, but Burton replied saying he was a living man and “under the living of God and Jesus Christ”.

Mr Stjernqvist then allowed Burton’s support person to join him at the bar table, where he was asked to ask Burton if he understood the charge.

David Michael Burton leaving the Maroochydore Court House.

But the support person rejected this, saying they objected to the court proceedings and Burton was not required to answer any questions.

Burton was then asked if he wanted the matter dealt with, which he said did not need to be addressed before demanding a jury be present.

“I have no jury! Where’s the jury? Where are my 12 jurors?” he shouted.

Upon being told to leave the courtroom, Burton yelled he would “take this all the way to the Supreme Court.”

“I appeal this decision on the grounds of error and law,” he shouted before being escorted from the room.

The court was told Burton had been charged after refusing to tell police officers his full name after he was pulled over on the Sunshine Motorway in Buderim on January 7.

Police prosecutor James Allen said it was then revealed Burton’s licence had been suspended due to outstanding fines.

An ex parte order was made with Burton fined $600 for the matter and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Sovereign Citizen David Michael Burton in court for failing to state full name