Arguments Over Evidence Puts Duffy Trial On Pause Until Next Week

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Apr, 2015 11:23 AM

OTTAWA — Mike Duffy's trial has been put on pause while lawyers argue over the admissibility of a Senate report.

Justice Charles Vaillancourt will hear arguments Monday in what is called a voir dire, basically a mini-trial within the main trial.

Donald Bayne, the suspended senator's lawyer, wants to treat a 2010 Senate committee report as fact during the course of the trial.

The report was based on an audit of senators' office expenditures and service contracts.

The Crown does not want the report treated as fact, but rather as opinion — an important distinction when the judge later reviews all the evidence laid out in the trial.

The unplanned break further delays the fraud, breach of trust and bribery trial, which is already expected to exceed its 41-day schedule by weeks.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Alberta's political earthquake has Tories, NDP considering federal fallout

OTTAWA — Federal Conservatives say they're gobsmacked over the political tectonic shifts in Alberta this week, but they don't have to reach too far into their own history to see parallels with the political pragmatism that's at play.

Alberta's political earthquake has Tories, NDP considering federal fallout

Computer Virus Infects B.C. Government Email Servers

VICTORIA — A computer virus has forced the British Columbia government to shut down its email system, cutting off the information flow for much of the day.

Computer Virus Infects B.C. Government Email Servers

Kenneth Knutson Accused Of Shooting Mountie In Kamloops Now Faces Six Charges

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Two new charges have been laid against a man accused of shooting a Mountie in Kamloops, B.C., during a traffic stop.

Kenneth Knutson Accused Of Shooting Mountie In Kamloops Now Faces Six Charges

Stolen Suitcase Found In B.C. But Missing Most Of Dead Sister's Belongings

NANAIMO, B.C. — Police have recovered a stolen suitcase that contained the prized belongings of a dead B.C. woman, but most of items her sister had saved are still missing.

Stolen Suitcase Found In B.C. But Missing Most Of Dead Sister's Belongings

Man Arrested In Hit-and-run Death Of B.C. Cyclist Whose Wife Found Body In Ditch

COMOX, B.C. — A man has been arrested in the hit-and-run death of a cyclist whose body was found in a ditch after he was reported missing in Comox, B.C.

Man Arrested In Hit-and-run Death Of B.C. Cyclist Whose Wife Found Body In Ditch

Dispute Between Christian University, B.C. Law Society Now Court Bound

VANCOUVER — A Christian university in British Columbia is taking the debate between religious freedoms and same-sex equality rights into the province's courts.