Monday, June 02, 2008
BC RAIL TRIAL BEGINS JUNE 30
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BC RAIL CORRUPTION CASE TO START AT MONTH'S END
Neal Hall,
Vancouver Sun - Published: Monday, June 02, 2008
VANCOUVER - It looks like the BC Rail corruption trial will finally get rolling at the end of the month.
The case, involving three former government aides accused of corruption in relation to the sale of BC Rail in 2003, was in court briefly today before the trial judge, Justice Elizabeth Bennett of the B.C. Supreme Court.
The judge set June 30 as the date when lawyers for the Crown and the accused will finally get down to sorting out all the trial issues still outstanding.
The trial is expected to sit continuously after June 30 and is expected to begin hearing witnesses this summer.
"It is pretty shocking that Mr. Basi and Virk have had four and a half years without even starting a day of trial," said New Democratic Party attorney-general critic Leonard Krog, who attended today's pre-trial hearing.
"On one of the applications, there are 2,200 documents that the Crown is asserting some form of privilege, which is an absolutely astounding number," he said. {Snip} ...
A key issue at the pending trial will be the government's $1-billion privatization sale of BC Rail freight operations to Canadian National Railway.
The trial, originally scheduled to start in 2005, has appeared it might derail at times. It has been been repeatedly delayed by problems of disclosure to the defence.
The defence is also awaiting the outcome of an appeal of the trial judge's decision involving a secret witness. The appeal is set for three days next week, starting June 9.
nhall@png.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cedbbcd7-f68d-4575-ba7c-ab225c98cf55
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BC RAIL CORRUPTION CASE TO START AT MONTH'S END
Neal Hall,
Vancouver Sun - Published: Monday, June 02, 2008
VANCOUVER - It looks like the BC Rail corruption trial will finally get rolling at the end of the month.
The case, involving three former government aides accused of corruption in relation to the sale of BC Rail in 2003, was in court briefly today before the trial judge, Justice Elizabeth Bennett of the B.C. Supreme Court.
The judge set June 30 as the date when lawyers for the Crown and the accused will finally get down to sorting out all the trial issues still outstanding.
The trial is expected to sit continuously after June 30 and is expected to begin hearing witnesses this summer.
"It is pretty shocking that Mr. Basi and Virk have had four and a half years without even starting a day of trial," said New Democratic Party attorney-general critic Leonard Krog, who attended today's pre-trial hearing.
"On one of the applications, there are 2,200 documents that the Crown is asserting some form of privilege, which is an absolutely astounding number," he said. {Snip} ...
A key issue at the pending trial will be the government's $1-billion privatization sale of BC Rail freight operations to Canadian National Railway.
The trial, originally scheduled to start in 2005, has appeared it might derail at times. It has been been repeatedly delayed by problems of disclosure to the defence.
The defence is also awaiting the outcome of an appeal of the trial judge's decision involving a secret witness. The appeal is set for three days next week, starting June 9.
nhall@png.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cedbbcd7-f68d-4575-ba7c-ab225c98cf55
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Comments:
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Interesting report, given that Neal Hall was not at the courtroom. I was there, along with Mark Hume of the Globe and Keith Fraser of the Province. I presume Neil has spoken with Leonard Krog after the hearing.
Express Collision Shop Said,
THE TRACKS AIN'T ALIGNING, ARE THERE TWO COURTHOUSE'S IN VANCOUVER ?
Were Tieleman and Hall in the same courthouse ? I am still a little woozy and it ain't the paint fumes(I installed the best filter/scrubber money can buy). I am pretty sure the Sun article says the "BC Rail case to start at month's end" What's up ?
THE TRACKS AIN'T ALIGNING, ARE THERE TWO COURTHOUSE'S IN VANCOUVER ?
Were Tieleman and Hall in the same courthouse ? I am still a little woozy and it ain't the paint fumes(I installed the best filter/scrubber money can buy). I am pretty sure the Sun article says the "BC Rail case to start at month's end" What's up ?
# posted by 
: June 2, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.
: June 2, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.
Hi Mary.
Just an up date on the TV news, this morning only one channel had the BC rail corruption trial on it’s radar.
“Corruption trial of three provincial government aids begins June 30th.”
This was the text at the bottom of the screen on city TV this morning (June 3rd), there was nothing verbally mention thou and this text ran from 6:30 am till 9:00am then disappeared from 9:00 am – 10:00 am.
Kudos to city TV for at least mentioning this important trial, now to just get the fox news of the north to mention it.
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Just an up date on the TV news, this morning only one channel had the BC rail corruption trial on it’s radar.
“Corruption trial of three provincial government aids begins June 30th.”
This was the text at the bottom of the screen on city TV this morning (June 3rd), there was nothing verbally mention thou and this text ran from 6:30 am till 9:00am then disappeared from 9:00 am – 10:00 am.
Kudos to city TV for at least mentioning this important trial, now to just get the fox news of the north to mention it.
# posted by : June 3, 2008 at 10:19 a.m.
: June 3, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. << Home
