Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Possible mistrial raised in corruption case
Possible mistrial raised in corruption case linked to B.C. legislature raid
CKNW - October 31, 2006
TERRI THEODORE
VANCOUVER (CP) - A lawyer for a former B.C. government aide facing corruption charges says a lack of evidence disclosure by the Crown makes the case a prime candidate for a mistrial.
Michael Bolton told Justice Elizabeth Bennett on Tuesday the case is a serious contender for a miscarriage of justice.
Bolton and other defence lawyers want access to the RCMP project room where the evidence is kept.
............. snip .............
Bolton, who is Dave Basi's lawyer, said police used "misleading, misinformed and perhaps deliberately false affidavits" to obtain authority for two wiretaps.
The court heard Monday police obtained a wiretap for a government cellular phone without telling the authorizing judge it was a government phone.
........snip........
He said the [RCMP project] room contained more than just privileged documents from the B.C. legislature, but also information of police informants.
"The relationship between RCMP and their informants would be fundamentally impaired," Berardino said, if defence lawyers were allowed to see the information.
Read the complete report at:
www.cknw.com/news/news.cfm?dir=national&file=n103155A&n=1
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
.
CKNW - October 31, 2006
TERRI THEODORE
VANCOUVER (CP) - A lawyer for a former B.C. government aide facing corruption charges says a lack of evidence disclosure by the Crown makes the case a prime candidate for a mistrial.
Michael Bolton told Justice Elizabeth Bennett on Tuesday the case is a serious contender for a miscarriage of justice.
Bolton and other defence lawyers want access to the RCMP project room where the evidence is kept.
............. snip .............
Bolton, who is Dave Basi's lawyer, said police used "misleading, misinformed and perhaps deliberately false affidavits" to obtain authority for two wiretaps.
The court heard Monday police obtained a wiretap for a government cellular phone without telling the authorizing judge it was a government phone.
........snip........
He said the [RCMP project] room contained more than just privileged documents from the B.C. legislature, but also information of police informants.
"The relationship between RCMP and their informants would be fundamentally impaired," Berardino said, if defence lawyers were allowed to see the information.
Read the complete report at:
www.cknw.com/news/news.cfm?dir=national&file=n103155A&n=1
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
.
Comments:
<< Home
I don't think there is any chance of a mistrial being declared. These are just further stalling tactics. Good strategy, but unlikely to anything except delay the trial.
If the three accused are innocent they should be able to prove it regardless of disclosure. The fact they have 61,000 pages of info, but still are not happy, tells me they are either fishing for a helpful technicality or, more likely, stalling
If the three accused are innocent they should be able to prove it regardless of disclosure. The fact they have 61,000 pages of info, but still are not happy, tells me they are either fishing for a helpful technicality or, more likely, stalling
# posted by 
: October 31, 2006 at 7:03 p.m.
: October 31, 2006 at 7:03 p.m.
I'm going to repeat your words until I feel better.
Also, I think that these high-priced lawyers ought to be able use this pre-trial hearing to sort through and eliminate the deficiencies.
Try googling William Berardino. His law firm claims to be able to solve any issue. Well, I really hope he does.
Also, I think that these high-priced lawyers ought to be able use this pre-trial hearing to sort through and eliminate the deficiencies.
Try googling William Berardino. His law firm claims to be able to solve any issue. Well, I really hope he does.
Seems another filing cabinet got removed from Basi's old offcie, this week. The big discussion was. Did the police come to get it on a old warrant? new Warrant? Did some staff haul it outside the building then call the police to pick it up. It was suddenly "discovered in the office". should be intersting if some of the stuff shows up next week in the pretrial. Evidence withheld etc. etc. Unless proven other wise these folks are innocent
dl
dl
# posted by : October 31, 2006 at 7:53 p.m.
: October 31, 2006 at 7:53 p.m.
Well unfortunately we now have all 3 parties involved in this case wishing that it would go away.
If the reports are true, the RCMP engaged in questionable tactics in obtaining the warrant to tap Basi's cell. The Government / Crown clearly doesn't want its dirty laundry exposed and Basi / Virk have an obvious excuse.
As I have said all along, this case will never see the inside of a courtroom for trial and now we have a pretty good out for everyone. I predict that we see a mistrial or at least another series of delays which will eventually lead to the dismissal of charges "in the interest of fairness to Virk and Basi".
If the reports are true, the RCMP engaged in questionable tactics in obtaining the warrant to tap Basi's cell. The Government / Crown clearly doesn't want its dirty laundry exposed and Basi / Virk have an obvious excuse.
As I have said all along, this case will never see the inside of a courtroom for trial and now we have a pretty good out for everyone. I predict that we see a mistrial or at least another series of delays which will eventually lead to the dismissal of charges "in the interest of fairness to Virk and Basi".
# posted by : October 31, 2006 at 9:00 p.m.
: October 31, 2006 at 9:00 p.m.
What a roller coaster, these events.
What did you think of the Chief Justice of B.C. Supreme Court making public a widely-aimed e.mail chastising the Attorney General in no uncertain terms?
Then ... so far as I can see yet today ... no mention in West Coast newspapers of the Tuesday session in which Bill Berardino gave his view of how the 66,000 documents were handled. But a good summary in The Globe and Mail. What do you think of that ??
Post a Comment
What did you think of the Chief Justice of B.C. Supreme Court making public a widely-aimed e.mail chastising the Attorney General in no uncertain terms?
Then ... so far as I can see yet today ... no mention in West Coast newspapers of the Tuesday session in which Bill Berardino gave his view of how the 66,000 documents were handled. But a good summary in The Globe and Mail. What do you think of that ??
<< Home
