Looking gaunt and tired, Michael Nehass made a brief appearance in territorial court this morning.

“My conditions up at WCC (Whitehorse Correctional Centre) are not changing,” he said from behind the glass in the prisoner’s box, his wrists cuffed and hands clasped. “I am being inhumanely treated at WCC.

“I’m confined to my cell. I feel unsafe with staff at WCC.”

Nehass’ Vancouver-based lawyer, Bibhas Vaze, phoned in to the courtroom to request more time for discussions with the Crown before proceeding with the case.

The 30-year-old accused said angrily in court that Vaze hadn’t run this by him first, and that he was under the impression he only had to appear before a judge once more following his Yukon Review Board hearing in August.

If the lawyer doesn’t consult him again before making a decision, Nehass told Vaze, he’d fire him.

The review board found last month that Nehass is fit to stand trial for his charges, including mischief, uttering threats and disarming a peace officer.

Three months before that, a territorial court judge found Nehass unfit.

According to the Department of Justice, when the board finds an inmate is able to stand trial, the case returns to court for another fitness hearing.

Behind bars since December 2011, Nehass has previously alleged inhumane treatment at the jail.

Last January, he appeared naked and shackled before a judge via video feed for a case management conference.

Nehass has also said he was kept in solitary confinement for two years.

During a media tour of the WCC last week, Nehass was visible in a cell in the facility’s secure living unit, which staff said is often used as a transition between segregation and living in a regular unit.

Nehass’ father filed a complaint with the Yukon Human Rights Commission, although the department has said that there is an existing process for inmate complaints – involvement of the independent Investigations and Standards Office (ISO).

The ISO accepts human rights complaints, department spokeswoman Lily Gontard said last week.

Nehass’ matters were adjourned to Sept. 19.

The next court date for charges he’s facing in Yukon Supreme Court, including assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, is Sept. 23.