Silmser back on the stand 

Cornwall Standard-Freeholder 

Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:00 

By Terri Saunders 

David Silmser is back on the stand at the Cornwall Public Inquiry after his lawyer successfully lobbied to change the order in which parties will cross-examine his client. 

Clint Culic asked Comm. Normand Glaude to consider putting those parties whose lawyers are expected to ask more “evocative” questions about Silmer’s contact with a number of public institutions at the end of the line. 

As it stands, lawyers for Rev. Charles MacDonald, a city priest whom Silmser says sexually abused him as a young boy, will continue their cross-examination after other parties such as the Children’s Aid Society and the Ministry of the Attorney General complete their questioning. 

Glaude said while he normally defers to parties to decide in which order they examine witnesses, he said steps should be taken to allow Silmser to be cross-examined as completely as possible. 

“If he doesn’t get through, it may be seen as a failure on our part,” said Glaude. 

Silmser abruptly left the witness stand Thursday just a short time into questioning by Dominic Lamb, a lawyer who represents MacDonald at the inquiry.