Dustin Ward Paxton, 30, who appeared in court in Calgary on Friday in the Dustin LaFortune case, said he still has not hired a lawyer. (Regina Police Service)

The man accused of confining and brutally beating his former roommate, Dustin LaFortune, appeared confused and agitated Friday as he made his first court appearance by video link in Calgary.

Dustin Ward Paxton, 30, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of forcible confinement in connection with a long-running series of attacks in Calgary and Regina that left LaFortune disfigured and emaciated.

LaFortune, 26, was dumped at a Regina hospital by an unidentified man in April with injuries his family believes were the result of torture.

When provincial court Judge C.L. Daniel asked Paxton, appearing from the Calgary Remand Centre, whether he understood the charges against him, the accused man replied, "No." He called them "jargon."

"I want a lawyer," Paxton said loudly.

Wearing blue overalls and pacing alone in a locked room in the jail, Paxton vigorously rubbed his hair, and rocked back and forth with his arms tightly crossed.

Paxton has so far only been advised by a duty counsel.

The judge told him he has the option of retaining his own lawyer or applying for legal aid, which Paxton said he would do.

Paxton's next court appearance was set for Sept. 3.

Police believe LaFortune, originally of Winnipeg, was assaulted in Calgary between Dec. 1, 2008, and March 2, 2010, and again in Regina between March 15 and April 16, when he was dropped off at the hospital in Regina.

Paxton was arrested on Monday at a residence in southeast Edmonton and transported on Thursday to Calgary, where the investigation is being handled.

With files from the CBC's Leighton Klassen