I am just back from the Ottawa courthouse (Father Joe LeClair had a court date this morning).
Father Joe LeClair was not there. I didn’t really anticipate that he would be. Once again, it was over and done with in the twinkle of an eye, and yet another court date has been set -also another date for “follow up” on the judicial pre-trial (I assume the judicial pre-trial of 11 December 2012?).
The revolving door :(.
Anyway, upcoming dates for Father Joe LeClair are as follows:
(1) 13 February 2013: 10 am, Ottawa, Ontario courthouse, for “follow up” to the judicial pre-trial hearing. This is NOT open to the public;
(2) 27 February 2013: 08:30 am, courtroom #5, Ottawa, Ontario courthouse
*****
One way or the other, the 27th of February will be an interesting day for me personally. On Monday morning I was subpoenaed to testify at the trial of Gregory Hartnell in Victoria, British Columbia.
Yesterday I was told that the Crown is attempting to get an okay from a judge to have me testify via video-conference. There will be a hearing or whatever in that regard 07 February: I should hear what the outcome is shortly after.
Since I am being called as a witness I prefer to say no more. There is some information here on the Victoria, BC British Columbia website.
Gregory Hartnell faces one count which, according my subpoena, reads as follows :
Gregory Paul Michael HARTNELL, from the 7th day of November, 2011 to the 9th day of November, 2011, inclusive, at or near Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, did fail to comply with an Order made by the Provincial Court Judge pursuant to Subsection 538 (1) of the Criminal Code prohibiting the publication in any document or the broadcast or transmission in any way of the evidence at a preliminary inquiry over which the Judge was presiding, and did thereby commit an offence, contrary to Section 539 (3) of the Criminal Code.
This relates to the Father Philip Jacobs preliminary hearing.
Please keep Gregory Hartnell in your prayers. This I am sure has not been a pleasant experience for him. And, I must say that I do not relish testifying. Who ever does?
Finally, speaking of Father Phil Jacobs, the sex abuse trial of Father Phil Jacobs will wrap up today with the Crown continuing final submissions. There is at least one article covering events in the courtroom yesterday which I will post now.
One more thing. There are interesting happenings in Germany. I will seek out further articles to those which I already have and post them shortly.
Enough for now.
Sylvia
I know financial-based trials have a lot of discovery issues, and I expect the defence wants lots of time to examine evidence they didn’t have. In your opinion, Sylvia, when would an actual trial date occur, if there is no prior settlement or plea deal?
The charges came early last July – would the trial likely happen within a year of the charges, or can it stretch out longer?
If this goes to trial I truly have no idea when that might be. My experience is that here in Ontario cases rarely go to trial in less than a year, and more often than not it is more than a year – more like two years (from charge date). There can be pleasant surprises, but I generally tell people to expect a wait of at least a year to two years – leaning toward the two year. If something happens sooner then that is great, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.
“int he Province of British Columbia”
Is that Latin?
Much simpler than Latin Mark: a typo. I have corrected. Thank you 🙂