Rob Ford may not be charged, but he could still be forced to testify
The CBC points out an interesting footnote to yesterday’s news that the police investigation into Rob Ford has stalled: even though it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the mayor will be charged with any crimes (though it’s worth noting that Toronto Police say they’re still on the case), he could be forced to testify under oath when his friend Sandro Lisi goes to court in late 2014.
Any lapses of honesty in that situation would constitute perjury, and so Ford would be required by law to answer some of the questions journalists have been asking of him for months. (Either that, or refuse to answer them on the grounds that doing so would incriminate him.) [CORRECTION: Nope. He has to testify no matter what, but his answers can’t be used against him.] This means there’s some hope that the public will eventually know more about how Ford accounts for his involvement with criminals and alleged gang members—even though the mayoral election will likely be over before he has an opportunity to take the stand.
Also, the mayor has two other court cases on the go. He’s being sued for allegedly getting his sister’s ex-husband beaten in jail. Meanwhile, the east-end restauranteur who sued Ford for libel is taking that case to the Court of Appeal.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/rob-ford-could-still-be-forced-testify/&title=Rob Ford may not be charged, but he could still be forced to testify&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rob-ford-crack-yellow-624x312.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_257165" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Image: Christopher Drost)[/caption]
The CBC points out an interesting footnote to yesterday's news that the police investigation into Rob Ford has stalled: even though it's looking increasingly unlikely that the mayor will be charged with any crimes (though it's worth noting that Toronto Police say they're still on the case), he could be forced to testify under oath when his friend Sandro Lisi goes to court in late 2014.
Any lapses of honesty in that situation would constitute perjury, and so Ford would be required by law to answer some of the questions journalists have been asking of him for months. (Either that, or refuse to answer them on the grounds that doing so would incriminate him.) [CORRECTION: Nope. He has to testify no matter what, but his answers can't be used against him.] This means there's some hope that the public will eventually know more about how Ford accounts for his involvement with criminals and alleged gang members—even though the mayoral election will likely be over before he has an opportunity to take the stand.
Also, the mayor has two other court cases on the go. He's being sued for allegedly getting his sister's ex-husband beaten in jail. Meanwhile, the east-end restauranteur who sued Ford for libel is taking that case to the Court of Appeal.){kind=link}
“I refuse to answer on the grounds that anything and everything I say would definitely incriminate me” – Rob Forb, 2014
He can’t actually refuse to answer questions under Canadian law. He has immunity for answer he is compelled to give, but he still has to answer them. There is no fifth amendment in Canada.
Ford would just lie.
Right. Section 13 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a witness who testifies from having their testimony used against them in any other proceedings, unless they commit perjury.
An accused person is not required to testify in their own trial, but in someone else’s trial, if you’re summoned as a witness, you have to talk.
Thanks for pointing this out. I’ve made the correction above.
He would, but he is so stupid he lies horribly so he will get creamed on the stand.