Polygamist offers no opening statement in his rape trial

“You’ve sat here now for an hour and not said a word,’’ District Judge Barbara Walther said, adding that his continued silence could have “a very bad result.’’

The silence was a sharp contrast to Jeffs’s earlier behavior in court. Then, he spoke for more than 20 minutes, telling the judge he had spent extensive time training his lawyers, but they were not able to present “a pure defense.’’ He then pleaded for more time to prepare the case by himself.

But Walther turned down that request. Jeffs has burned through seven attorneys in six months, and prosecutors complained that his frequent switching of counsel was a delay tactic.

Jeffs’s sect is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism that contends polygamy brings exaltation in heaven, and followers see him as God’s spokesman. He is accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls at a remote compound in West Texas. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

The surreal day in court began with Jeffs addressing Walther in long and complicated sentences frequently punctuated by awkward pauses when he would stare intently at the floor.

Walther ordered all of Jeffs’s attorneys to remain on as side counsel, but held firm on no further delays.