Here are my notes from this morning’s BC Rail Corruption trial session in Courtroom 54 of the BC Supreme Court:
- Crown not ready, re-organizing trial strategy
- Eliminating witnesses, reducing trial length
- Will take till Monday next to get ready.
Outside the courtroom, Special Prosecutor Bill Barardino went off the record with the three reporters in court to try and explain why he’s delaying the trial again. Seems he’s not been able to reorganize his trial strategy and shorten the trial. He also wasn’t able to confirm that his next witness will be former finance minister Gary Collins, despite the fact that he’s sent a letter to the defense informing them that Collins is the next witness.
And why would the Special Prosecutor be ready? Taxpayers have only paid Barardino’s law firm almost $3.5 million in just the last four years to prosecute this case. Barardino’s been on the government’s tab for almost seven years now.
Here’s an alternate explanation of the Special Prosecutor’s request for another delay.
The Special Prosecutor’s strategy is in shambles following the deeply troubling testimony of his first two witnesses, Gordon Campbell Chief of Staff Martyn Brown and BC Rail Director Brian Kenning. Having his first key witnesses play Alzheimer’s patients through cross-examination was – to my eye – remarkably damaging to their credibility.
Perhaps future witnesses have checked in to see what’s happening in court and are bailing on the Special Prosecutor. If Martyn Brown had such a bad time, how do you think an admitted breaker of the law like Ken Dobell will do under a withering cross-examination? Or John MacLernon – Brian Kenning’s go to guy according to much of his testimony.
Or how about Gary Collins? He’s been represented – at taxpayer cost – by lawyer Clark Roberts for coming up to seven years. No doubt Collins assumes that he’s on lots of tape and in lots of notes, memos and emails, currently in the defense’s hands. Just how good could it be for this current lobbyist to end up on the receiving end in the courtroom?
Re-organizing trial strategy? What’s that they say about deck chairs and the Titanic?
Ian–
What’s that you say?
Mr. Berardino threw the pub-ban in the round file and talked to three reporters (at least one of whom did post-up a synopsis of what was said)….
Now.
Lemme guess….
Two from Postmedia and one from CP, right?
Which, if I’m right means nobody from The Globe (maybe Mr. M. came late again and missed the entire thing) as well as nobody from the Ceeb or any other ‘lectronic media whatsoever?
Does that mean that there were actually more Citizen Journalists in the gallery than paid ones?
.
” Gary Collins? He’s been represented – at taxpayer cost ” Are you telling me this individual is still on the public trough ? ( 7 years ) . Is this part of his retirement package or a benefit because he was a Minister at one time ? And Paul’s law firm has received over 3 million ? Is this actually true.
RossK
Off the record for part… Two from Postmedia and Mark Hume from the Globe. There was a CP reporter but he didn’t join the conflab. Robin Mathews was explicitly asked to leave Mr. Barardino’s “private” conversation.
As a minister of the crown at the time of the raid, Collins is ‘indemnified’, ie. you and me pick up his legal bills relating to the matter. “Paul’s law firm…” do you mean William Berardino? It’s way over $3million. I only went back four years but he’s been on the SP payroll for almost seven years. I would expect the figure would be over $5 million now. But that’s a guess. One caveat – those are payments to his firm. They may not be all for this prosecution, although given the work and size of the team I suspect most if not all are. We won’t be able to find out until the end of the case as the matter of cost is sub judice, FOI wise.
Ian,
I’ve had difficulties all day with, I think, heavy traffic … so it’s a very slow computer day (linked to the wider world via Data Stick) and it has taken extra time to read or post things. Hence the slow response.
I loved what you said in your column … and hope that your previous generosity allows me to pirate your work again, and repost it on my front page. With credit, of course.
I can’t shake off the grim feeling that the weirdness of the Corruption Trial is linked to whatever surprise Gordo has in store for us on Oct 27. If you have suggestions for things bloggers can do … pls. advise. I’ve come as close as I dare, to using words like corruption and collusion but privately, I think the whole scene reeks of c&c. How MacK. comes off so gaily confident is a mystery to me.
Good wishes to you, Ian. And thanks.
Mary.
Thanks Ian,
The Ceeb ran with a CP story….Mr. Hume, unless I missed it, has not yet filed late Tuesday afternoon….Very, very interesting re: Mr Mathews deliberate exclusion….I guess unaccredited citizens need not apply….
.
Thank you for your article it really tells it like it is. Don’t forget that Winteringham has an office in the building owned by David Maclean, chair of CN. Doesn’t that make for a cozy relationship?