OTTAWA – Over the course of several months in 2015, dozens of people made appearances in the Ottawa courtroom where suspended senator Mike Duffy stood trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery.
READ MORE: Mike Duffy trial: What to expect as verdict looms
Here’s a guide to some of the people who have been on hand during the trial, which is expected to culminate Thursday in a verdict.
The Accused
Sen. Mike Duffy: A popular former national broadcaster, Duffy was named as a senator for Prince Edward Island by then-prime minister Stephen Harper in December 2008. He became a fundraising powerhouse for the Conservatives, travelling the country to appear with Tory MPs and candidates. He was charged in 2014 amid questions about his housing and expense claims, as well as revelations that his disallowed claims were repaid by Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright.
WATCH: How things unfolded on and off Parliament Hill in the lead-up to the Duffy charges
The Men in Robes
Ontario Justice Charles Vaillancourt: The Toronto-based judge presiding over the case.
READ MORE: Crown needed to prove intent to get a conviction in Duffy trial, says expert
Mark Holmes and Jason Neubauer: Crown attorneys from Ottawa with signficant criminal convictions under their belts.
Donald Bayne: A veteran Ottawa-based criminal defence lawyer with experience in government inquiries and high-profile cases involving murder, war crimes, and conspiracy.
Former Prime Minister’s Office Staff
Nigel Wright: Ex-chief of staff to Stephen Harper. Secretly repaid $90,000 of Duffy’s contested Senate living expenses in 2013. Back working now for private equity firm Onex, in London.
Benjamin Perrin: Former legal adviser in the PMO. Perrin has said he did not participate in Wright’s decision to cut Duffy a cheque. RCMP documents show Perrin negotiated directly with Duffy’s lawyer to set the terms of the repayment.
David van Hemmen: Van Hemmen was Wright’s former executive assistant, and knew about the $90,000 cheque. Later became the director of budget planning for then-finance minister Joe Oliver.
WATCH: Duffy’s lawyer says there’s no evidence to convict senator
Chris Woodcock: Former PMO director of issues management, who worked with others on reshaping a Senate committee report on Duffy and developing media lines for the senator. Now an executive at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
WATCH: A primer on the Duffy trial
The Senate
Former Conservative senator Marjory LeBreton: Former government leader in the Senate. LeBreton complied with PMO desire to try and close the book on the Duffy expense issue after repayment. Scolded behind the scenes for not controlling situation better.
Conservative Sen. David Tkachuk: Part of a three-member sub-committee which prepared a whitewashed report on Duffy’s living expenses.
Conservative Sen. Carolyn Stewart Olsen: A member of the same Senate committee. Relayed back to committee changes the PMO wanted to the Duffy report and voted for the edits.
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Chris Montgomery: Former head of issues management inside LeBreton’s office. Pushed back at PMO’s meddling in the Senate committee report on Duffy. Now works for Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Gary O’Brien: Retired clerk of the Senate.
Nicole Proulx: Senate’s chief corporate services director, formerly finance director.
Duffy Contractors
Gerald Donohue: A friend of Duffy’s from TV days. Duffy awarded him money for contracts for consulting and writing services. Police allege no real work was done.
Ezra Levant: Columnist and television commentator. Received contract money for speeches written for Duffy.
Mike Croskery: A personal trainer who police allege received more than $5,000 in Senate funds via Duffy.
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