OTTAWA – Mike Duffy is expected to take the stand in his own defence toward the end of his fraud and breach of trust trial in which he faces 31 charges and the possibility of jail time.
Defence lawyer Donald Bayne said on opening day that court will be hearing from the suspended senator himself, and on the second day of his trial Crown prosecutor Mark Holmes suggested this will happen in June.
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Duffy faces multiple fraud and breach of trust charges as well as one bribery charge associated with Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright’s $90,000 to pay off Duffy’s living expenses.
Each fraud or breach of trust charges carries a maximum of five years prison time.
The trial is scheduled to last 41 days, from Aprl 7 to May 12, and again pick up on June 1 to June 19.
Duffy paused and appeared to want to talk to the media on the first day of trial, but his lawyer told the media everything they have to say will come out in the courtroom.
Other witnesses expected to testify include Wright, media personality Ezra Levant, and Conservative senators David Tkachuk, Marjory LeBreton and Carolyn Stewart Olsen.
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