If There Is No Trial.....

....Does That Mean There Was No Crime?

ProjectEveryWhichWay
ButTruthVille

Neal Hall's Basi-Virk-Basi story in today's Vancouver Sun was short, and the unbylined story from the Canadian Press was even shorter.

But the only new 'news' (ie. 'newsier'?) thing either told us were some future dates in the sorry saga that has become the BC Rail Trial that never starts.

Oh ya, that and the fact that the judge says that the public has waited too long.

If you want a more fulsome story, I suggest you go read Robin Mathews eyewitness account at BC Mary's place as it includes stuff like the following:


The short session dealt with an update of information about the process of narrowing the needs of Defence for materials and pursuing search through the famous drug investigation cabinets ("We're at drawer 6 of 7 drawers" a voice reported electronically from a cybernetic box on the table, "and we should have the review complete in ten days"). The lawyer in charge of extracting materials from the legislature actors, Mr Copley, always unctuous, always deferential, reported categories of privilege and work going ahead...slowly.

Mr. Berardino, Special Crown Prosecutor, surprised the assembly by announcing that material he had expected to have available was taking longer to assemble than he had at first believed....

Madam Justice Elizabeth Bennett entered the courtroom newly coiffed, looking younger than last time, and relaxed. She affirmed at a point in the deliberations - dealing with scheduling - that this case has to proceed! Some of us vaguely remember her saying that in 2006...or was it 2005?

Scheduling occupied some time. Racing to conclusion, the next gathering will be October 26. After that the parties will assemble again on December 3. Beginning on March 17 of next year, some time will be taken up hearing the Charter Challenge by the Defence, alleging wire-tapping that infringed the Charter rights of its clients, and other such invasions of fundamental freedoms. When that is over, the trial (if any basis for trial remains) will proceed at a date as yet not announced.


Yup, nothing to be seen there.

Nothing newsworthy whatsoever.

So, move on people of British Columbia.

Oh, and by the way, just so you know, the private railway that bought the public railway that we used to own (see below) had another derailment yesterday.


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Please do not misunderstand us. There was no intent to impugn the work of Mr. Hall here as he has done brilliant reportage on this story in the past. One does have to wonder, however, why his editors didn't give him a little more time and space this time around. On a related, but entirely non-conflational, tangent we sure did find this fictional (of course!) excerpt from John Armstrong's book in The Tyee fascinating.
Correction: In the original post I identified the most recent derailment as being on track that previously belonged to BC Rail. That was incorrect. The CN line from Prince Rupert to Prince George predates the BC Rail deal. Many thanks to the anon-o-mice over at Mary's place.

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