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Former Calgary metropolis councillor Joe Magliocca is against the Crown calling greater than two dozen witnesses scattered throughout the nation and past through video hyperlink on felony expenses.
Defence counsel Aryan Sadat mentioned Monday he solely received official discover this previous weekend that Crown prosecutor Aaron Rankin intends to name a lot of his case by way of distant witness testimony.
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However Rankin mentioned the record of witnesses, principally individuals allegedly falsely named as recipients of booze or meals paid for by Magliocca, shouldn’t be inconvenienced by having to return to Calgary to provide temporary proof.
Rankin instructed Justice Gord Wong that lots of the proposed 27 witnesses are at present serving politicians who don’t need their schedules interrupted by a visit to Cowtown.
“Mr. Sadat suggested me his shopper wouldn’t consent to distant testimony for any witness,” Rankin instructed the Calgary Court docket of Justice decide.
Among the many proposed witnesses are present Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, former Quebec Metropolis council member and present Quebec provincial cupboard minister Jonatan Julien and former Peterborough, Ont. council member Stephen Wright, who now resides in Australia.
The rest of the 27 proposed witnesses reside throughout Canada.
Magliocca, 59, faces expenses of breach of belief by a public officer and fraud over allegations he was reimbursed for bills at out-of-town features that weren’t really incurred.
Rankin mentioned the witnesses aren’t anticipated to provide prolonged testimony once they do give proof throughout the trial, which is ready to run over 11 days till Sept. 26.
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“These individuals attended municipal authorities conferences not situated in Calgary,” he mentioned.
Rankin mentioned the witnesses had been interviewed by police and requested concerning a selected date and time, “Have been you the visitor of Mr. Magliocca?”
“They’ll give proof on that time. The expectation is the reply will likely be ‘no.’”
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However Sadat argued there was no proof any of the witnesses had been reluctant to journey to Calgary and urged the prosecutor ought to have filed affidavits supporting that competition.
As an alternative, Rankin known as lead investigator, RCMP Const. David Mitchell, who went over a number of quick transcripts of interviews with the proposed witnesses exhibiting their statements had been temporary.
Mitchell mentioned a number of of the proposed witnesses, resembling present Ontario Liberal Occasion chief Bonnie Crombie, introduced up the difficulty of interrupting their busy schedules.
“Many have expressed frustration with the concept … of taking time to return to testify,” he mentioned.
Wong will hear additional submissions from Sadat on whether or not to permit the distant testimony on day two of the trial this Friday.
Rankin mentioned he nonetheless has different witnesses who may give proof earlier than Wong palms down a ruling on his software.
Magliocca was a two-time member of Calgary metropolis council from October 2013 to October 2021, when he misplaced his bid for a 3rd time period simply days after expenses had been laid.
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