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Live: Mike Duffy Trial

Follow along with our live blog for updates of court proceedings:

Judge: Charles Vaillancourt
‎Prosecution: Mark Holmes, Jason Neubauer
Defence: Donald Bayne

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/13/2015 2:48:45 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

Hi everyone, welcome to our coverage of the Mike Duffy trial.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 2:09:50 PM
Mike Duffy arrives at court for his trial on fraud, breach of trust & bribery. #cdnpoIi #duffy

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:10:06 PM
Duffy, wife Heather & lawyer Don Bayne are now in courtroom 33. #duffy #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:10:06 PM
Donald Bayne - defense lawyer - said everything will be said in court. #duffy #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:10:07 PM
Mike Duffy has entered Courtroom 33. #DuffyTrial

by Omar Sachedina via twitter 4/7/2015 2:10:55 PM
LIVE from outside court: Mike Duffy trial reaction as it happens: ow.ly/LioSE http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CB_rlaTWYAAYNRa.jpg

by Watch CTV News via twitter retweeted by grahamctv 4/7/2015 2:16:36 PM
3 Senate staffers are here to watch Duffy trial. #duffy #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:17:29 PM
More colour:
- people lined up outside the courtroom. First person in line is member of public, says he is "here because it has huge implications for democracy". Behind him are three staff from the Senate of Canada. Most people in line are journalists.
- four Ottawa Police Service officers outside the courtroom. Everyone will be subjected to go through metal detectors before going in the main courtroom.
‎- main courtroom will be full. Mix of reserved seats for journalists, and people who stood in line today
- overflow courtroom ... only about 40 or 50 people here. Not going to take up the 100+ seats available.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) via email 4/7/2015 2:22:11 PM
Press Gallery line moves in first then public. All pass through metal detector #DuffyTrial @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:23:44 PM
Metal detector is set up outside courtroom 33. Everyone must go through it before they can see Duffy trial. #duffy #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:24:56 PM
Doubt 1030 start time given pace of spectators entering #DuffyTrial @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:25:52 PM
Media slowly allowed in to Courtroom 33 for #DuffyTrial. Must pass through metal detector. Bags being checked. This could take a while.

by Omar Sachedina via twitter 4/7/2015 2:26:00 PM
Members of the Liberal Party member in the overflow room to listen in. Haven't noticed NDPer or CPCers. (but doesn't mean they're not here).

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) via email 4/7/2015 2:35:31 PM
Looks like any Canadian courtroom aside from dozens of reporters packed seats overflow room for public #duffytrial @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:39:06 PM
Don Bayne Duffy's lawyer checking lectern courtroom full waiting for defendant #duffytrial @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:42:32 PM
Some members of public turned away #duffytrial courtroom full @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:43:21 PM
Mike Duffy is in court sits at defence table #DuffyTrial @ctvottawa @CTVNews his wife Heather whispers something to him

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:45:28 PM
For those wondering, court hasn't started yet. Scheduled start was 1030.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) via email 4/7/2015 2:46:12 PM
Duffy working on small laptop at defence table. Waiting for judge @ctvottawa @CTVNews #DuffyTrial

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:48:41 PM
Two sketch artists working #DuffyTrial will provide drawings for broadcasters @ctvottawa @CTVNews

by Graham Richardson via twitter 4/7/2015 2:49:54 PM
Mike Duffy's wife in front row. Duffy is seated with a laptop on table. #DuffyTrial

by Omar Sachedina via twitter 4/7/2015 2:50:44 PM
A defence lawyer at Patrick Brazeau's sex assault trial last week is in courtroom 33 to observe Duffy trial. #duffy #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 2:51:06 PM
by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 3:38:42 PM
Special thanks to the media for the extended coverage of this. It's a shame that this trial couldn't be televised.

by Matt 4/7/2015 5:06:57 PM
NDP staffers hand out camembert to media outside Ottawa courthouse. #duffy #SenCA #cdnpoli

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 5:36:40 PM
Suspended Sen. Mike Duffy is loitering outside courtroom 33 before trial resumes at 2:15pm. #duffy #cdnpoli #SenCA

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 5:46:51 PM
Duffy's lawyer Don Bayne makes defence saying Senate rules lacked clarity and understanding. #cdnpoli #duffy #SenCA

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 6:27:10 PM
Holmes: With approval, release witness now and have him back at 10:00 Wednesday. ‎Judge: approved. // Judge: Will retire after defence opening statement

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:29:44 PM
Bayne's opening statements begin. Says this is actually four trials in one. It will complicate and extend the proceedings. Not much will overlap.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:30:02 PM
Says charges 1 and 2 -- deal with appointment of senator for PEI by PM, a deliberate act by the PM.
It's not common sense, Sen rules and guidelines deal with NCR

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:30:37 PM
Charges 2 to 20 -- don't deal with residency but individual travel expenses. Rules, guidelines and policies deal with those travel for "parliamentary and public business".

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:31:13 PM
My friend downplay those rules, and apply some notion of common sense. "That's not how statute works... that's not how senate rules work"

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:32:13 PM
Bayne says part 3 -- will require your interpretation. Problems identified by senate itself ‎-- lack of understanding, consistency "Mike Duffy has been singled out here"

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:32:47 PM
He continues: Part 4 -- counts 29 to 31 -- Nigel Wright cheque. Not "to" Mike Duffy. Some of my cross examination will be compartmentalized , esp with Senate officials -- relate to the cross examination of senate officials will be somewhat detailed... not scintillating headlines for media‎.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:33:29 PM
Bayne says Duffy is not to be blamed if Senate "rules are found to be lacking." #duffy #cdnpoli #SenCA

by Robert Fife via twitter 4/7/2015 6:37:01 PM
Bayne then goes into details. Says this began with media allegations, and subsequent reference by Senate to Deloitte . T
his wasn't an independent firm retained by defence for court purposes, it was senate seeking out advice to report back to senate on state of senate rules and guidelines

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:40:41 PM
Bayne says the Crown would like you as to put your hand in the sand and ignore (the Deloitte audit)
the evidence will show after Deloitte reporting to the senate, the senate through BOIE ...
this committee which runs admin of senate, in its public report 22 in direct response to Deloitte report -- it's a public report, the crown doesn't want you to consider this

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:41:42 PM
He adds: Senate admits that rules are lacking in criteria in determining primary residence, as such Deloitte was unable to conclude Duffy expense claims inappropriate even under the rules

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:42:05 PM
KPMG mandated again by senate, not defence... these were wholly Senate-mandated ‎reports. Done in 2013. Date matters, the info circumscribes--- covers 2009-2013. Senate made some attempts to clean up admin mess, that even after time period, independent audit firms are reporting on Senate's primary designations and whether they even *yet* have criteria.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:42:27 PM
Bayne: "Sen Duffy is not to blame if they (the evidence) are to have been found lacking"

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:43:00 PM
Regarding Part 4, the Nigel Wright cheque, Bayne says 'we have detailed email evidence (grabs binder, thump on desk) for part 4 when we examine, they were actually co-conspirators... ask you to consider -- self-interested witnesses, They refer the matter to the RCMP. Commence 16-mth investigation

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:43:50 PM
Bayne continues, on topic of residency: Crown said test was ‎whether he would have to travel btwn PEI or not. But he became on appointment a Senator from PEI. It changed on appointment

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:53:34 PM
B: Senate said "on travel status when you're in ottawa", but doesn't mean you don't have to get up - you don't have to travel. Senate itself in 1998 said provincial residence means your primary residence, so you're on travel when you're in Ottawa. Forms says you have to designate your provincial designation is primary residence. He followed forms.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:54:12 PM
Bayne: Don't know why Crown made comment that he isn't qualified to be senator. Not necessary comment. It's about the criteria the rules set: it must be prov of appt, can only be prov of appt, it can't be NCR and it must be residence. Sen Duffy PEI residence -- owned longer than Ottawa bungalow -- that clearly qualifies

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 4/7/2015 6:54:59 PM