After a nearly three-month break, Mike Duffy’s trial is set to enter its fourth – and possibly final – phase, with the embattled senator himself expected to take the stand sometime in the next five weeks.
Duffy, who represents Prince Edward Island, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery.
Here is where the trial left off, and what the public can expect to see over the next four weeks:
Nigel Wright testimony
The last time Duffy was in court, a federal election campaign was in full swing. The court heard testimony from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s one-time chief of staff Nigel Wright, who was questioned on the $90,000 cheque he gave to Duffy to help cover questionable expenses.
Other aides to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper also testified on the secret repayment deal with the senator, revealing the inner workings of the PMO in the midst of an unfolding Senate scandal.
4th phase of the trial:
As the trial resumes, the Crown is expected to wrap up its evidence in the next few days.
CTV legal analyst Boris Bytensky said the last “major part” of the Crown’s case against Duffy will be testimony by Gerald Donohue, whom the senator awarded some Senate contracts for research and consulting services.
Donohue is reportedly ill, but is expected to testify via video link.
As the defence presents its case, Mike Duffy himself is expected to take the stand.
Bytensky said Duffy “will have to explain a number of things,” particularly the various expenses that are tied to Donohue’s companies.
This portion of the trial is expected to run until Dec. 18.
The judge will likely render a decision “many weeks” after the next break, which means a verdict will almost certainly be handed down sometime in 2016, Bytensky said.
