The cross-examination of a key crown witness came to an end yesterday at the Keith Hobbs extortion trial and now comes the turn for the defence.
Former mayor Hobbs, his wife Marisa, and co-accused Mary Voss are accused of trying to get a $400,000 house from the alleged victim. Four weeks have been set aside for the proceedings. A strict media ban prevents our newsroom from identifying certain individuals in the trial or telling you about some of the evidence.
The witness who was testifying in the case this week was OPP Detective Inspector Martin Graham. For the past several days he has been on the stand as the videotaped interrogation of the three accused people is played in court. Brian Greenspan, the attorney for the Hobbses declined his opportunity to cross-examine Graham. George Joseph the lawyer for Mary Voss asked the police officer about the power imbalance between the accused and the alleged victim.
Up until this point in the trial, the crown has been front and centre presenting its side of the case to the judge. The defence is expected to start calling witnesse
ing witnesses today.
