Exclusive | Antisemitic raisin heir makes dramatic request after court rules on competency

A strange turn of events in the case of the wealthy heir to a raisin empire who yelled vile antisemitic slurs at his Rabbi neighbor as he tries to avoid going to trial.A disheveled Bruce Lion, 64, appeared before Judge Ronald Kaye on Monday wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit, a gray beard, and shackles as he fought three felony charges stemming from an alleged antisemitic tirade directed at his Jewish neighbor from the balcony of his $5.3 million Pacific Palisades home.Lion told the judge he wanted to replace his public defender with attorneys Alexandra Kazarian and Salinas-based John Klopfenstein, who has represented the wealthy Lion raisin heir in previous criminal cases.“We have a long history,” Lion said.Lion grew agitated when Klopfenstein suggested continuing the hearing until next Monday.

“Wait, wait, wait, John,” he shouted as bailiffs stepped between the two.After a brief recess, the court ordered an on-site competency evaluation.Dr.

Becker found Lion “competent to stand trial,” but Klopfenstein immediately requested a second evaluation by Pasadena psychiatrist Dr.Alan Chen.Asked by The California Post why he wanted a second opinion, Klopfenstein said the defense is pursuing mental health diversion but declined to elaborate.Before Lion was led back to his cell, Judge Kaye reminded him he remains under a protective order requiring him to stay away from his neighbor, Rabbi Zushe Cunin, whose videos of the heir allegedly hurling antisemitic threats from the balcony of his Pacific Palisades mansion led to his June arrest.“I don’t know what he looks like.

I don’t know who he is,” Lion told the judge, referring to Cunin.Kazarian asked the court to temporarily lift the order so Lion could retrieve belongings from his home, about 300 yards from the rabbi’s residence.The judge swiftly denied the request.A woman in the gallery, who declined to be identified, said she would be willing to collect Lion’s belongings.

Bail remains set at $225,000, ...