Unpacking the politics: Week 1 of the Mike Duffy trial

Press gallery veteran David Akin stopped by for a quick look at the first week of the long-anticipated criminal trial against suspended senator Mike Duffy.

The courtroom only heard from one witness over the first five days of the trial, but it was enough for Akin to determine a winner and loser of the week — or at least a clear loser.

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So who were the winners? Duffy’s lawyer Donald Bayne, Akin said. 

“At the end of the week, on some of the charges, I think he has maybe put a little bit of doubt in some people’s minds.” he said. 

As Duffy, the Crown, the journalists and political observers file back into the court house Monday for Week 2, Akin said he’ll be watching to see some clear explanation of Senate rules — if there really are any. 

“The next witness we’ll hear from is going to be a Senate human resources officer. All week long, the only witness has been the former law clerk of the Senate,” he said. “Next week, more rules with the Senate human resources officer: who Duffy hired, how did he hire them, did he do it properly?”