Friday, November 24, 2006
Four reports from BC Supreme Court ... and an enigma
.
From: Robin Mathews
To: bcmary14@rogers.com
Subject: Hearing Nov 24
Dear Mary. I just got in from the 9:10 a.m hearing on the matter of the examination of the RCMP Project Room in Victoria. What occurred is pretty well what we said would occur. Crown and Defence agreed they were working very hard, agreed the work would take time, and asked to have until around mid-December to complete the work ... they hope. Their demeanour of adversarialism wasn't there and they were smiling and amiable with one another. I believe a vague January date is suggested for trial.
I also learned the reason I have not been able to get Madam Justice Elizabeth Bennett's so-called "oral" reason for deciding to open the Project Room (as I looked on she read the decision from a typed format) is because she hasn't released it to anybody - and Crown wants to see it, as doubtless Defence does, too. Apparently, judges do that, holding (sometimes for a long time) "oral" decisions and perhaps tidying up the form of them a little before releasing them.
That may satisfy people like Associate Justice Patrick Dohm, but it doesn't satisfy me and shouldn't satisfy Canadians. Justice Bennett should set the hearing four hours later if necessary, have her decision completed, and available to all parties AND all interested Canadians. Very clearly, Supreme Court practice needs cleaning up because every failure to make public information available to the public invites suspicion and contempt - justifiably. It is surprising how many people say: "Oh, that's how they do it", not "That is unacceptable in any self-respecting, democratic, legal system serving the rule of law". good wishes, R.
................................................................................................
Friday, November 24, 2006
Basi Virk BC Legislature Raid Case Postponed Again
By Bill Tieleman
The oft-delayed BC Legislature raid case has been once-again postponed.
Charges against former BC government ministerial aides David Basi, Bob Virk and communications staffer Aneal Basi will not likely be heard until late February or early March.
BC Supreme Court defence lawyers and the Special Prosecutor agreed to delay a pre-trial update scheduled with Justice Elizabeth Bennett for today until December 18 at 9 a.m.
That means the previously slated trial start date of December 4 is off.
With pre-trial motions and a voir dire on the admissibility of wiretap evidence and issues of Parliamentary privilege surrounding some evidence, plus the Christmas holiday break, it seems highly unlikely the trial could begin before March 1.
................................................................................................................
And from Randy at http://houseofinfamy.blogspot.com/:
Subject: Court Lists Today
Hi Mary,
Everything is there in the court lists today. There are nine pages total and I think at least six of them have to do with the BVB case. Note the cases (same main number different after the hyphen) named HMTQ vs. Limited Access and Limited Access vs. Others, but they all have similiar case numbers, so I think they are all the various questions of discovery, disclosure and privilege coming from the Special Prosecutor and the Defense. I've downloaded them, so when they disappear, they don't disappear.
................................................................................................................
Thank you, all. Many, many thanks indeed.
Thanks also to DL (Report No. 4) who sent the URL for the Court Lists but I couldn't get it to transfer to this site. I can send it by e.mail, however, if you contact bcmary14@rogers.com. The Criminal list shows Udhe Basi, Bobby Virk, Aneal Basi and each of the charges. - BC Mary.
................................................................................................................
Influence peddling trial for former Liberal insiders delayed after both sides say they need more time
Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, November 25, 2006
The trial involving former Liberal insiders accused of influence peddling whose alleged activities led to the unprecedented raid on the B.C. Legislature, has been delayed.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett had hoped to start proceedings in December, but Crown and defence lawyers said Friday they are not ready to begin and need several more weeks.
.................snip..................
Justice Bennett will meet again with lawyers on Dec. 15 to determine if the trial can begin in January or whether more time is required.
.................snip..................
...........................................................................................................
So the next pre-trial courtroom conference takes place in Vancouver Supreme Court Room 67 (wait for confirmation of that) on either Friday, December 15 or Monday, December 18, 2006 (confirmation needed on this, of course). Closer to December 15, BC Mary will request confirmation of hearing dates.
...........................................................................................................
.
From: Robin Mathews
To: bcmary14@rogers.com
Subject: Hearing Nov 24
Dear Mary. I just got in from the 9:10 a.m hearing on the matter of the examination of the RCMP Project Room in Victoria. What occurred is pretty well what we said would occur. Crown and Defence agreed they were working very hard, agreed the work would take time, and asked to have until around mid-December to complete the work ... they hope. Their demeanour of adversarialism wasn't there and they were smiling and amiable with one another. I believe a vague January date is suggested for trial.
I also learned the reason I have not been able to get Madam Justice Elizabeth Bennett's so-called "oral" reason for deciding to open the Project Room (as I looked on she read the decision from a typed format) is because she hasn't released it to anybody - and Crown wants to see it, as doubtless Defence does, too. Apparently, judges do that, holding (sometimes for a long time) "oral" decisions and perhaps tidying up the form of them a little before releasing them.
That may satisfy people like Associate Justice Patrick Dohm, but it doesn't satisfy me and shouldn't satisfy Canadians. Justice Bennett should set the hearing four hours later if necessary, have her decision completed, and available to all parties AND all interested Canadians. Very clearly, Supreme Court practice needs cleaning up because every failure to make public information available to the public invites suspicion and contempt - justifiably. It is surprising how many people say: "Oh, that's how they do it", not "That is unacceptable in any self-respecting, democratic, legal system serving the rule of law". good wishes, R.
................................................................................................
Friday, November 24, 2006
Basi Virk BC Legislature Raid Case Postponed Again
By Bill Tieleman
The oft-delayed BC Legislature raid case has been once-again postponed.
Charges against former BC government ministerial aides David Basi, Bob Virk and communications staffer Aneal Basi will not likely be heard until late February or early March.
BC Supreme Court defence lawyers and the Special Prosecutor agreed to delay a pre-trial update scheduled with Justice Elizabeth Bennett for today until December 18 at 9 a.m.
That means the previously slated trial start date of December 4 is off.
With pre-trial motions and a voir dire on the admissibility of wiretap evidence and issues of Parliamentary privilege surrounding some evidence, plus the Christmas holiday break, it seems highly unlikely the trial could begin before March 1.
................................................................................................................
And from Randy at http://houseofinfamy.blogspot.com/:
Subject: Court Lists Today
Hi Mary,
Everything is there in the court lists today. There are nine pages total and I think at least six of them have to do with the BVB case. Note the cases (same main number different after the hyphen) named HMTQ vs. Limited Access and Limited Access vs. Others, but they all have similiar case numbers, so I think they are all the various questions of discovery, disclosure and privilege coming from the Special Prosecutor and the Defense. I've downloaded them, so when they disappear, they don't disappear.
................................................................................................................
Thank you, all. Many, many thanks indeed.
Thanks also to DL (Report No. 4) who sent the URL for the Court Lists but I couldn't get it to transfer to this site. I can send it by e.mail, however, if you contact bcmary14@rogers.com. The Criminal list shows Udhe Basi, Bobby Virk, Aneal Basi and each of the charges. - BC Mary.
................................................................................................................
Influence peddling trial for former Liberal insiders delayed after both sides say they need more time
Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, November 25, 2006
The trial involving former Liberal insiders accused of influence peddling whose alleged activities led to the unprecedented raid on the B.C. Legislature, has been delayed.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett had hoped to start proceedings in December, but Crown and defence lawyers said Friday they are not ready to begin and need several more weeks.
.................snip..................
Justice Bennett will meet again with lawyers on Dec. 15 to determine if the trial can begin in January or whether more time is required.
.................snip..................
...........................................................................................................
So the next pre-trial courtroom conference takes place in Vancouver Supreme Court Room 67 (wait for confirmation of that) on either Friday, December 15 or Monday, December 18, 2006 (confirmation needed on this, of course). Closer to December 15, BC Mary will request confirmation of hearing dates.
...........................................................................................................
.
Comments:
<< Home
The Legislature Raids
After reading these postings I realize that the technique used in Vancouver, in British Columbia and in Canada is to take advantage of our lack of memory. We have forgotten Emerson. The technique is to delay until we all either forget or don't care anymore. In Vancouver many attempts were made at saving landmark buildings like the original Eaton's or the Georgia Medical/Dental Building. But the campaign to save them petered out as the developers waited for our collective memory to peter out. The outragious photos of the police coming out with boxes from the BC Legislature is now a dim memory. It is far easier to get excited over photographs of the new James Bond.
Alexwh
After reading these postings I realize that the technique used in Vancouver, in British Columbia and in Canada is to take advantage of our lack of memory. We have forgotten Emerson. The technique is to delay until we all either forget or don't care anymore. In Vancouver many attempts were made at saving landmark buildings like the original Eaton's or the Georgia Medical/Dental Building. But the campaign to save them petered out as the developers waited for our collective memory to peter out. The outragious photos of the police coming out with boxes from the BC Legislature is now a dim memory. It is far easier to get excited over photographs of the new James Bond.
Alexwh
To "Anonymous" November 28:
You scared the livin' daylights outa BC Mary ... I've saved your comment for the astonishing details about organized crime in B.C. and Hong Kong ... but you must know (I have a feeling that you do know) that some of your remarks are libelous.
It made me a bit jumpy, I must admit, when I found that the key to removing a comment, had itself been removed. So that's why the whole article had to be taken out ... oops. Sheesh.
I wish you'd write again ... omit the libelous accusations ... and give us the benefit of your information.
Especially tell us: how do you know all that stuff??
Post a Comment
You scared the livin' daylights outa BC Mary ... I've saved your comment for the astonishing details about organized crime in B.C. and Hong Kong ... but you must know (I have a feeling that you do know) that some of your remarks are libelous.
It made me a bit jumpy, I must admit, when I found that the key to removing a comment, had itself been removed. So that's why the whole article had to be taken out ... oops. Sheesh.
I wish you'd write again ... omit the libelous accusations ... and give us the benefit of your information.
Especially tell us: how do you know all that stuff??
<< Home
