tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post5026731151837204281..comments2024-03-22T05:20:44.167-07:00Comments on The Disaffected Lib: DDD - Duffy's Date with Destiny, But Who's That Sitting Beside Him in the Prisoner's Dock?The Mound of Soundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-7462145330637439492016-04-21T12:26:13.979-07:002016-04-21T12:26:13.979-07:00Pretty explicit eh Mound ...
"Judge says the...Pretty explicit eh Mound ... <br />"Judge says the emails show a political and covert operation that is both mind boggling and shocking"<br />" a complete repudiation of Harper's PMO. And the judge is just warming up! I'm starting to forget who is on trial."<br />"Judge on PMO machinations: "could Hollywood match such creativity?" "<br /><br /><br />I am waiting here (to post my final prediction-gloat) for the last 3 verdicts....<br />Not guilty on 29.... 30... 31 counts ... in that order!<br />Northern PoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04670080478290108536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-76469979347461567342016-04-21T10:52:46.176-07:002016-04-21T10:52:46.176-07:00You may be right regarding most judges and how the...You may be right regarding most judges and how they deliver their verdicts.<br />(So fun to argue with you ... over nothing.) <br /><br />In this case he is following the exact sequence (1,2,3 ... 20) of the charges.<br /><br />The immaculate bribery charge was the most bizarre thing we peons have seen in a long time (29,30 31). With the dismissal of charges 1 & 2 (the residence expenses) there is not even a single thread to make the bribery stick.<br /> <br />It seems no one unduly benefitted from the weird contracting Duffy did, so I say those are out the door too.<br /><br />As you suggest, I don't think the judge will be explicit but surely he has already delivered guilty verdict to Harper & his thugs in the PMO.Northern PoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04670080478290108536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-48375177377349623102016-04-21T10:17:19.752-07:002016-04-21T10:17:19.752-07:00@ Owen & NPoV - remember, it's usual for j...@ Owen & NPoV - remember, it's usual for judges to deal with the acquittals first, leaving the convictions to the end. Don't read too much into the early verdicts.<br /><br />That said, it is very unusual for a judge to confront a 31-count indictment of any defendant. Usually the Crown picks the most important charges with the highest likelihood of conviction and ditches the rest.<br /><br />What has the judge seen during this trial? He's seen many accounts simply abandoned by the Crown. In some the Crown actually led no evidence. In several the Crown didn't even cross-examine Duffy. That means that Duffy's account stands.<br /><br />This bizarre conduct has to give Vaillancourt pause. There's a message in this. The Crown brought these charges not because it intended to pursue them but for a collateral purpose, a political persecution. This creates the appearance of a political show trial which is an abuse of the judicial system. <br /><br />I'm convinced it's open to Justice Vaillancourt to declare the trial an abuse of process, vexatious, brought for improper political purposes. Will he go that far? Probably not. Could he? I think so.<br /><br />That's why this initial floor-sweeping isn't too important. It's how Vaillancourt takes out the trash at the end that should be the most interesting.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-64650994150666423912016-04-21T10:07:37.343-07:002016-04-21T10:07:37.343-07:00As I write, Duffy has been acquitted of 20 charges...As I write, Duffy has been acquitted of 20 charges. Even if he's found guilty of a couple of charges, it's clear that this trial was a pile on. Justice had nothing to do with the exercise.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-20890506444432966562016-04-21T09:47:13.695-07:002016-04-21T09:47:13.695-07:00Come on ... I'm out on a limb here, with so mu...Come on ... I'm out on a limb here, with so much at stake ;-)<br /><br />Twitter is really good for these live situations: the judge is following the sequence of charges and everything he says points to further acquittals.<br /><br />Either way: Judge finds Harper & PMO <br />GUILTY (as (not) charged) LOL<br /><br />Northern PoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04670080478290108536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-25527133380400883962016-04-21T09:40:27.780-07:002016-04-21T09:40:27.780-07:00@ NPov - I think your view is widely shared. I'...@ NPov - I think your view is widely shared. I'm not so sure that Duffy won't be convicted on one or two of the 'raiding the petty cash' offences. We'll see. The Globe is reporting he's been acquitted on the first dozen charges but the court ordinarily leaves the convictions to the end.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-10442650089463988122016-04-21T09:38:12.823-07:002016-04-21T09:38:12.823-07:00@ Dana. Yes, they sure can be charged. There has b...@ Dana. Yes, they sure can be charged. There has been considerable disagreement whether a parliamentarian, especially a prime minister, can be subpoenaed to testify while Parliament is sitting.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-49232836957470340102016-04-21T09:19:18.020-07:002016-04-21T09:19:18.020-07:00Just reposting my comment from a before:
"La...Just reposting my comment from a before:<br /><br />"Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. "<br /><br />Not guilty on all charges. Alas. But just a low life grifter ... the real crooks (Nigel and Stephen) not even charged.<br /><br />Gloating aside ....We already convicted Harpo - too bad he gets to avoid Del Mastro's fate. Northern PoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04670080478290108536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-42266336667547114632016-04-21T09:10:43.322-07:002016-04-21T09:10:43.322-07:00Refresh my memory: can a sitting MP be prosecuted?...Refresh my memory: can a sitting MP be prosecuted? Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465953801145126160noreply@blogger.com