Justice Anne MacKenzie has imposed a publication ban severely limiting what media may legally report from the British Columbia Legislature raid case.
Here's how the ban's worded: “There shall be no publication in any document or broadcast or transmission of any evidence, submissions, rulings or Reasons for Judgment given in these proceedings in the absence of the jury until the jury renders its verdict or until further order of the Court.”
The trial, set to start May 3, involves corruption charges against former B.C. Liberal government aides David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi related to the $1 billion sale of B.C. Rail.
Find my further thoughts on the publication ban on my blog.
Bill Tieleman is a regular Tyee contributor who writes a column on B.C. politics every Tuesday in 24 Hours newspaper.
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freebear
3 years ago
Deaf, dumb and blind!
Don't want to upset the sheeple or their political masters?
Will it mean anything for the Campbell government and provincial Liberal party?
Hopefully yes, probably not!
Skywalker
3 years ago
If there had been a deck construction...
...it would be all over the front pages of the Sun and Province with the blessings of the judge. It's about how much of the truth we should be exposed to.
BC Mary
3 years ago
Threats
.
No matter how often I read these rulings and the opinions, I simply cannot grasp the concept of a high court telling its citizens not to inform ourselves about what happened to a huge, publicly-owned asset such as BC Rail.
So on my blog
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/
I am reprinting Hansard's record of debates in which questions were asked by a vigorous 2-person Opposition facing an arrogant 77-person Wild West government.
If publishing relevant excerpts from Hansard March 3, 2004 gets me in trouble, well ... I dunno ... would you call that justice?
Gary
3 years ago
Operative Words
I think Bill, as I have written elsewhere,the operative words in the ruling are "in the absence of the jury".
To me, this means if the jury is excused from court, say for the Secret witness, then anything said in court about anything while the jury was not in the courtroom is not to be published in any way.
So, anything else that is said AFTER the jury is selected and they are in the courtroom to hear evidence,rulings and arguments anybody can publish anywhere in Canada anytime.
Van Isle
3 years ago
Sure would love to be on the
Sure would love to be on the jury. Then after the trial is all said and done then I would tell BC Mary and Bill (and who ever else who wants to know) what I observed sitting so close to the action.
freebear
3 years ago
Van Isle....
Get a book and movie deal first!
crankypants
3 years ago
Secret witness
I would assume that the secret witness will be heard by the jury, just not seen by them. There is no way a jury could render a proper verdict if they were not able to hear all the evidence. Whether the media is able to hear his or her testimony is another story.
I agree with Gary's take on the judge's ruling. Now that the defense has chosen to be tried by a jury, she must make every effort to make sure the accused are either convicted or found innocent based on the evidence they hear in court rather than rumor and innuendo floating through the media.
Grania
3 years ago
We have a right to know
This was our resource...sold at our expense...and as citizens and taxpayers; we have a right to know ALL the evidence!
ifsandsnbutts
3 years ago
Sinking heart...
..."until the jury renders its verdict or until further order of the Court."
To me this says...we'll know nothing of what goes on in the court (unless we're there in person) as far as any media source is concerned - OR - Never.
"Until further order of the Court." If she doesn't want to issue a further order, this appears to say we'll know nothing about the case in the courts. Period. Rather similar endings don't you think? We know NOTHING about the sale of BC Rail, we'll know even less about how it came about, if this means what I think it does.
Curt
3 years ago
A travesty of justice?
A travesty of justice?
morechatter
3 years ago
No Accountability
Now the courts are hiding in the dark as its not like we have gansters that are going to shoot anyone down? Its the same courts and justice system that have allowed valuable evidence to be destroyed without a second thought while keeping the case from trial. The public is being constantly kept in the dark especially where it matters, their futures.
So why all the secrets? Or is that a secret also?