The Duffy trial heard from a number of major players in the Gerald Donohue contracts last week, but not from Donohue himself.
And for the first time, there was confirmation that the trial of the suspended senator could last longer than expected.
Here's a day-by-day wrap up of week two of the Duffy trial.
Monday
The week started off with testimony from Senate human resources officer Sonia Makhlouf, who was questioned about the contracts Duffy issued to his friend Gerald Donohue. RCMP investigators have alleged that Duffy issued $65,000 worth of contracts to Donohue for “little or no apparent work,” including payments to Duffy's personal trainer and a make-up artist.
Makhlouf said she would not have approved any contracts for the training or makeup services because it was not related to parliamentary work.
The Crown suggested that Duffy used his Senate office budget to get a mounted photo of Barbara Bush for the former U.S. first lady. It also alleged that Duffy used Senate money to frame pictures of some of his family members and a photo described as “lady, man and child.”
Witness Sonia Makhlouf, a Senate human resources officer, arrives at the trial of suspended senator Mike Duffy at the courthouse in Ottawa on Thursday, April 16, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Tuesday
Discussion over the framed photos continued on Tuesday, with Duffy's lawyer Donald Bayne attempting to make the case that the suspended senator’s expenses were within the rules, which were often vague.
And in his cross examination, Makhlouf agreed that Senate administrative rules give senators the power to decide on their contracts awards and hires. But Makhlouf also agreed that senators could not be experts on the rules.
Donald Bayne, counsel for suspended Senator Mike Duffy arrives at the courthouse for his trial in Ottawa, Friday, April 17, 2015. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Wednesday
Justice Charles Vaillancourt confirmed Wednesday that the Duffy trial will last longer than the allotted 41 days.
“I don’t see us completing our task in the assigned number of days,” Vaillancourt told court.
The trial is scheduled to run until May 12, and resume June 1 to 19. But an extension could take the trial into the fall election campaign, or even end just before the writ is dropped.
Bayne wrapped up his questioning of Makhlouf Wednesday.
Justice Charles Vaillancourt is seen leaving the court on April 15, 2015.
Thursday
The court heard from the first witnesses who received payments from the Donohue contracts.
Ashley Cain confirmed to the court that she received $500 for "doing good work" over several months of volunteering for Duffy. Cain was paid by Maple Ridge Media, the company run by Donohue. Cain now works in the Prime Minister's Office.
Makeup artist Jacqueline Lambert also testified that she invoiced $300 to Maple Ridge Media for services she provided to Duffy and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for a televised G8/G10 event in 2010.
Finally, the court heard from Mike Croskery, who Duffy hired as a fitness trainer in 2007, before he was appointed to the Senate. After Duffy's appointment, Croskery said the training sessions continued, but added that he also started to consult the senator on information about fitness for older adults. However, he said he never produced any reports for Duffy. Croskery said Duffy told him to start invoicing Maple Ridge Media.
Ashley Cain, Mike Croskery and Jacqueline Lambert all testified on April 16, 2015.
Friday
On Friday, the court heard from Elizabeth Brouse, a former vice-president of a research company that produced polling about Atlantic Canada. Brouse testified that Duffy didn’t know he’d been signed up for polling research reports, but paid for them anyway through one of Donohue’s companies.
Freelance journalist and author Mark Bourrie also appeared as a witness Friday. He told the court that he was paid $500 via Maple Ridge Media to help Duffy deal with online trolls.
Bourrie, who is now in law school at the University of Ottawa, said he met Duffy in 1994.
“I’m a short, fat balding guy from a small town, and so is he, so we kind of got along,” Bourrie said.
A court sketch of Mark Bourrie is show next to the cheque in this still frame taken from video.
With files from CTVNews.ca's Sonja Puzic
