Charles N. Sargent, who’s accused of stabbing to death trans woman Diamond Williams, then dismembering her body with an ax, has sent a series of Bible verses to court officials.
The Bible verses are contained in a 24-page “affidavit of truth” that Sargent sent to Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in October.
The affidavit is “sealed with the Holy Spirit,” according to Sargent.
In the affidavit, Sargent describes himself as a “living, breathing man whose advocate is Yahshua, the Messiah, Lord Jesus, the Christ.”
The affidavit states that God has zero tolerance for homosexuality, prostitution, hypocrisy, deception, incest, bestiality and other “wickedness.”
It warns that violators will be killed by “the sword,” if they cause God’s wrath to “flare up.”
The affidavit emphasizes obedience to God’s moral code.
“If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord, your God, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom,” the affidavit states.
Some transgressors are cursed by God, including idolaters, those who dishonor their father or mother and anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law. But God has mercy for other transgressions, according to the affidavit.
“If a thief is caught in the act of housebreaking and beaten to death, there is no bloodguilt involved,” the affidavit states, quoting from Exodus.
The affidavit doesn’t go into details about Williams’ homicide.
But according to a statement Sargent allegedly gave to police, he invited Williams to his Strawberry Mansion residence during the early-morning hours of July 14, 2013.
Sargent claimed he stabbed Williams in self-defense, after she demanded a pre-arranged payment of $40 for performing oral sex — which he says he refused to pay because she had male genitalia.
Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur had no comment on Sargent’s affidavit.
“As a public official and prosecutor, my duty is to ensure that this case is tried fairly in a court of law,” MacArthur said, in an email. “I do not think it is proper for me to divulge or comment on the contents of a defendant’s communications.”
Sargent, 45, remains incarcerated at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia.
He’s charged with murder, abuse of corpse and possessing an instrument of crime.
Sargent is a former Marine whose occupation is listed as “freelance bouncer,” according to court records.
A jury trial for Sargent is expected later this year. The D.A.’s Office isn’t seeking the death penalty.