OTTAWA — Sen. Mike Duffy’s trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery is poised to take a break until November — after the Oct. 19 federal election.
Ontario Court justice Charles Vaillancourt says the trial — which had been expected to sit through Friday — will adjourn at day’s end until its next scheduled window, which isn’t for several months.
The Crown had been expected to call a long-awaited witness: Gerald Donohue, a friend of Duffy’s who was given Senate office contracts that are alleged to be fraudulent.
But defence counsel Donald Bayne says he has a personal issue that might keep him away from the courtroom this week.
Vaillancourt says that means there isn’t much point in trying to press ahead right away.
It’s possible that the week set aside for the trial in November won’t be enough; the Crown hasn’t yet called all of its witnesses, while the defence has its own witnesses to summon to the stand.