Crown attorney Scott Hutchison could be wrapping up the Crown case against Mayor Larry O’Brien by the end of next week.
The trial will not resume until Monday. O’Brien is in Montreal Thursday attending his son’s graduation from McGill University.
The trial will be in session for only three days next week because Judge Douglas Cunningham will be in Winnipeg next Thursday.
Yesterday, Cunningham chose to allow hearsay testimony from a trio of witnesses earlier in the day and on Tuesday.
The evidence, phone conversations between Terry Kilrea supporter John Light, political consultant Greg Strong and Conservative fundraiser Thom Bennett was submitted by Hutchison to demonstrate that there was someone with knowledge of a plan consistent with an effort to arrange a parole board appointment for Kilrea.
O’Brien’s defence lawyer Michael Edelson argued that the conversations could in no way be linked to O’Brien and there was no basis to admit them as evidence.
“Ultimately it will be for me to decide what, if any, weight I give it,” said Cunningham. “It will be for me to determine if it shows some consistency of conduct and if it sheds any light on the important aspects of this case.”
Nepean Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod testified that the topic of an appointment to the national parole board for Kilrea came up “maybe once or twice” during a very casual conversation with O’Brien at her constituency office on July 31.
