The Father Phil Jacobs trial barely got off the ground yesterday before it was adjourned. It seems there are issues regarding disclosure of documents, and, I hope I am mistaken, but I get the sense Jacobs may be trying to have the whole thing tossed on technicalities.
Here is the media coverage which has been posted to date:
09 October 2012: Trial Delay for Saanich Priest Accused of Sex Crimes (with VIDEO clip)
09 October 2012: A woman’s past compels her to attend child abuse trial
09 October 2012: Sex assault trial starts for former Saanich priest
CBC also covered the events of yesterday but I haven’t as yet been able to find it online.
The trial is scheduled to resume this morning, with the judge ruling on disclosure issues. According to the Saanich News, there is also a possibility that it may go to a voire dire (a trial within a trial).
I hope and pray that this trial isn’t going to get side-tracked from addressing the veracity of sex abuse allegations themselves and into a lot of legal technicalities about dotting “i”s and crossing “t”s.
Apparently there were about 13 people in attendance. It doesn’t sound like many, but, believe it or not, that is fair few. I truly will never understand why more Catholics do not attend these trials to, at the very least, find out first-hand what what the evidence is and exactly what happens in that courtroom. Yes, the media does report, but what is reported and what actually transpires in that courtroom are two different things. It is impossible for any reporter to cover all that happens in a courtroom on any given day. Impossible. That has nothing to do with the accuracy of reporting – it is just a fact.
Once again, I encourage those who are free to do so to attend the trial. It would be nice for the complainants and their families to have some support, and also so very important to become familiar with the way these things work once they go to trial.
Note that Jacobs has not one, but two defence lawyers. He/the diocese? is obviously paying top dollar to get off the hook on these charges.
Since Father Jacobs is still a priest with the Diocese of Victoria I am guessing that the diocese is picking up the tab on his legal costs? Does anyone know for certain one way or the other?
A reminder here that there is intense interest in the Father Philip Jacobs trial in the Untied States and beyond. Many people are, for a variety of reasons, very anxious to know what is happening. I therefore encourage those who are in attendance to blog what you see and hear.
Please keep the complainants and their families in your prayers. And please also remember in your prayers the victims and complainants in the States.
*****
In case you missed it when I posted it yesterday, there are more charges against Father John Sullivan:
09 October 2012: Priest faces more sex charges
I commend the Ottawa man who has now come forward. Indeed, with PJ I commend booth complainants. I encourage anyone with allegations against Father John E. Sullivan to contact police. Never forget, you are not alone.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
*****
Not much happened in court at Holy Cross Father Rheal LeBlanc’s last court date. His next court date is 27 November 2012 at the Welland Ontario courthouse. This date is for pre-trial – pre-trials are usually NOT open to the public. The following day (28 November 2012) is “to set a date.” That could be to set a date for a preliminarily hearing, or to set a date for trial. We shall see.
*****
A hefty and well deserved sentence 30 to 60 year sentence for Jerry Sandusky. As far as I’m concerned, that should be minimum for every child molester – minimum.
Can you imagine any molester in Canada being sentenced to 30 years? I can’t. Four or five years here is a ‘stiff’ sentence.
My goodness, look at Father William Hosgson Marshall. Seventeen victims who came forward, and this Basilian priest was sentenced to a paltry two years in jail.
And, yes, there are two more complainants from Saskatoon who came forward and had charges laid. They are still waiting for justice to be done. Hod has yet another courtdate on those charges at 9:30 am, 16 October 2012 in the Windsor courthouse.
If there is a guilty plea on the 16th do you suppose Father Marshall will spend another single day in jail?
When it comes to treating molesters like the despicable criminals that they are, we have a long long way to go here in Canada.
Enough for now,
Sylvia
I hear that this morning defence was wanting access to police notes. While it is different this case is eerily reminiscent of the sex abuse trial of lawyer and Church canon lawyer Jacques Leduc. The Crown in the case, Shelley Hallett, was charged with failure to disclose and, thanks to his ‘dream team’, Leduc “walked.”
Leduc is a little like the OJ Simpson of Cornwall. He has paid off several lawsuits. His law practise went down the tubes in Cornwall. I heard recently that he may actually have packed his bags and moved to Quebec. His marriage was on the rocks for a while – I’m not sure if that is still the case. But, Leduc “walked.” His “alleged” victims suffer on, and Shellet Hallett’s career was destroyed.
Yes, of course, as with all things Cornwall, there is more to it. But, it was a technicality about disclosure got Leduc off the hook. It was dirty business indeed, but, it did the trick!