By Bill Tieleman, 24 hours columnist
The Basi-Virk political corruption trial will proceed - but the case will take until March of 2011 to be completed - nine months longer than originally scheduled.
The trial of three former B.C. government aides facing charges connected to the $1 billion sale of B.C. Rail in 2003 has been delayed repeatedly since it began May 17 by legal arguments that cannot be disclosed because of a publication ban.
And today in BC Supreme Court the trial was almost forced to start over with a new jury after Justice Anne MacKenzie told existing jurors that instead of the case ending by July 1 as planned, it will instead likely run through March of the next year.
MacKenzie implored the 12 jurors to continue on despite the lengthy delay.
“In my address I said counsel suggested the trial would last until late June,” MacKenzie told them. “But now the surprise.”
“I’m asking you – and you can discuss this – but assuming you have two weeks off at Christmas and most of the summer off after July 7 – can you accommodate us until the end of March?” MacKenzie told the jury.
“That’s the surprise because that’s the scheduling now,” she said, adding that jurors would also be able to get some days off for personal business such as doctor’s appointments.
MacKenzie advised the jury that such delays have previously happened in major B.C. Supreme Court trials.
When the jurors returned from discussing the delay in private MacKenzie announced that 10 of the 12 had committed to continue and two more would consider the situation and report back to her about their availability shortly.
Outside court defence lawyer Michael Bolton, representing David Basi, told reporters that: “The trial can continue with 10 jurors but it cannot continue with fewer than 10 jurors.”
NDP MLA Leonard Krog said outside court that the trial: “Is not a horse race, obviously.”
“Clearly this case was going to take a long time,” Krog said dismissing some estimates it might last only six weeks. “Ultimately this case is about what happened in the sale of B.C. Rail.”
To date the case has only heard testimony from one of more than 30 expected witnesses, Martyn Brown, Premier Gordon Campbell's chief of staff.
Brown is expected to return for further cross-examination by the defence when the jury returns to court on Wednesday June 9.
David Basi - former Ministerial Assistant to then-Finance Minister Gary Collins and Bob Virk - former Ministerial Assistant to then-Transportation Minister Judith Reid - both face breach of trust and fraud charges.
They are alleged to have passed confidential government information about the B.C. Rail bidding process on to lobbyists for one of the bidders in exchange for money and other benefits.
Aneal Basi, a former government communications officer, faces money laundering charges connected to the alleged payments.
A publication ban prevents reporting any court room proceedings taking place in the absence of the jury or any past pre-trial decisions or arguments.
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20 comments:
Bill, why hasn't this case been dismissed, due to abuse of process?
It looks like they're waiting for the secert witness to die.
That way, no one has to know just how dirty this country really is!
A possible HST referendum.
Possible recalls of Liberal MLAs.
Now a one-year BC Rail Liberal party corruption trial.
A horrible anus for El Gordoccio - as Her Majesty would say.
Gordon Campbell went looking for a new job this weekend - BC taxpayers picked up the tab.
Premier Gordon Campbell spent his weekend rubbing shoulders with some of the world's leading political and business figures at the 58th annual Bilderberg Meeting in Sitges, Spain.
The secretive invite-only meeting — dubbed by London's The Independent as an "annual cabal of the world's elite" — pulls together top international names to discuss issues such as foreign affairs and the economy.
[...]
The meetings took place June 3-6 and Campbell's trip was paid for by the provincial government.
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Ron,
Her Majesty, says nothing!
No body of authority to protect Canadians, from a country run by thugs!
Fatass Coleman is on politwitter.ca, and his profile says,'COLEMANCOUNTRY'!!!
GOOD RIDDENS
The eventual cost of this case will end up costing more than the give away of BC Rail
Just a question , if I may... If gordo quits, and he is found out to be involved with the BC Rail Scam, do we still have to pay his lawyers bills? "Go past Go, do not collect, go straight to jail".
If Gordo manages to get a job out of his rubbing shoulders with the Bilderberg types, and if quits his current gig and THEN LEAVES BC FOREVER!!!!
Well, then the taxpayer funded trip to Spain will be money well spent.
NINE F _ _ _ING MONTHS !!!!!
This province is more F _ _ _ED than North Korea.
You would get a faster and fairer trial in Uganda under Field Marshall, Doctor, President for Life, VC, KBE, Idi Amin Dada.
To the streets,arise, strike and bring down this political abortion call government in BC.
The GREAT SATAN
Bill-
It seems to me that with this drastic change in court scheduling, Madame Justice Keep-Everything-A-Secret ought to be more forthright with what is going on.
The publication ban should be lifted so we know what the hell is going on in that circus ring.
PS- Aren't you getting tired of this charade yet?
Dear Leader went to the Bilderberg meeting in Spain...
We all know Campbell flew in a private jet to the Olympics. What are the odds that he flew commercial to Spain?
A trial that breaks for the summer, sits only 4 days a week and for only 4 hours a day.
I can only imagine what the witnesses are thinking, giving that the questioning and cross examination is the only issue that is driving the extension.
With all the emails, documents and other government materials maybe we will get to the truth about why Gordon Campbell sold BC Rail to his most prominent donor David McLean and CN Rail.
I agree Anon. 5:24 PM PDT. He was at this conference and he went to Europe while the Leg was still meeting to hob-nob with the leaders over there.
Bill - Very interesting lawyer in the gallery today, speaking with the Special Prosecutor.
None other than George K. Macintosh, the lawyer who represented Erik Bornmann and was the subject of some interesting revelations during the disclosure hearing into the plea deal he negotiated with Berardino and Bormann.
Bill this is what you wrote on the 5th year anniversary of the raid on the Legislature.
George MACINTOSH. Lawyer, possible witness. Macintosh is a prominent Vancouver lawyer who represented lobbyist Erik Bornmann in negotiating a deal to become a key Crown witness and avoid possible prosecution for allegedly bribing David Basi and Bob Virk. The defence has been demanding information about that deal.
photo (.jpg) - Campbell @ Bilderberg
caption contest:
'Hey guys, is this the line for those who have already submitted their job applications?'
"NINE F _ _ _ING MONTHS !!!!!
This province is more F _ _ _ED than North Korea."
Wouldn't say that. Has this person been to North Korea?
"You would get a faster and fairer trial in Uganda under Field Marshall, Doctor, President for Life, VC, KBE, Idi Amin Dada.
To the streets,arise, strike and bring down this political abortion call government in BC."
Someone didn't get another bowl of Fruit Loops this morning
During the Pre-Trial, Judge Bennett issued an order that all witnesses were not to participate by sitting in the public gallery.
Does the same hold true for the Trial?
If George MacIntosh is to be a witness, shouldn't he, and other witnesses be banned as well because he, they, might be changing what they know to suit sworn testimony?
Nah! They can READ ALL ABOUT it in the newspaper.
So, now we have stall-gate. The trial is nothing but a farce. The three patsies will take the fall, Gordo will walk. If Campbell would have kept his dirty hands off the BC Rail, this wouldn't have happened. The BC Rail belonged to the people of BC, not to that S.O.B. Campbell should have been in prison, a long time ago. He's the one who should be on trial, and, everyone knows it. The Judicial System is controlled by Campbell. What a waste of tax payers money.
"So, now we have stall-gate. The trial is nothing but a farce. The three patsies will take the fall, Gordo will walk. If Campbell would have kept his dirty hands off the BC Rail, this wouldn't have happened. The BC Rail belonged to the people of BC, not to that S.O.B. Campbell should have been in prison, a long time ago. He's the one who should be on trial, and, everyone knows it. The Judicial System is controlled by Campbell. What a waste of tax payers money."
Lloks like someone didn't an extra bowl of Lucky Charms this morning.
Campbell hasn't been proven guilty of anything that would mean prison time.
Only a few weeks and one commentator thinks this whole thing is a farce. So if that's true
then Bill should end his coverage? I think not.
But the previous poster is going to nuts 4 months from now when the trial is halfway through we can imagine since even at this early point in time he's already done with it, calling it a farce.
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