Man on cross tells of visions
A former stage illusionist, found nailed to a wooden cross at Hampstead Heath, London, had first tried to get in touch, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marylebone Magistrates' Court was told yesterday.
Joseph de Havilland (27), of Surrendale Place, Maida Vale, London, said he left a message at Lambeth Palace : " I would like to inform the Archbishop, head of the English Church, that a testament will take place whereby a young man will be crucified with real nails and on a real cross to fulfil the first stage of a prophecy to act on the will of God."
De Havilland said that he had also got in touch with the Miracle Film Company in Wardour Street, Soho, and two other film organisations to tell them that the event was to be recorded on film.
He was giving evidence against Erie Leslie Leach (41), interior decorator ; Desmond Patrick Pollydore (28), unemployed; and David Kenneth Conklin (17), unemployed, all of Surrendale Place, Maida Vale, who are accused of causing de Havilland grievous bodily harm. Restrictions on the reporting of the hearing were lifted.
Earlier, de Havilland, who wore a metal cross on a chain around his neck, told the court of 12 prophecies made by " some things not of this dimension." The prophecies, over a three-and-a-half year period, all related to the crucifixion. De Havilland said the "things" - neither human nor animal - asked him to he crucified and told him where it should take place,
The Court was told that there had been a rehearsal of the crucifixion, known as "Plan X," so that the event could be safely talked about in public.
De Havilland said that during the crucifixion, he had directed Leach's mind before he had hammered in the nails. "Then Mr Leach reacted because he was not himself," he said.
De Havilland said that when Leach took out a third nail to start on his left foot, after his hands had been nailed to the cross, he had told him to stop. "I was informed by some things that it was the finish. That was enough," he said.
De Havilland said that during the crucifixion, Pollydore was standing about ten feet away, doing nothing. Conklin was taking photographs. The photographs taken at the scene were not meant for publication, he said.
The magistrate, Mrs Mary Williams, said the hearing would he adjourned until October 7. It would continue at Hampstead Magistrates' Court. All three were remanded in custody, but after an application for bail by Mr Julian Bevan, representing Pollydore, Mrs Williams said that Pollydore who had one surety of 100, could have bail if he found a further surety of 50.
