Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories
Reports this morning describe some effective theatrics from the defence. The Globe’s Paul Waldie writes that Atkinson’s lawyer, Michael Schachter, in concluding his summary (the bulk of which was delivered at the end of last week), asked his client to stand and face the jury before describing him as “…a man who has led a life of honour and integrity.” Rosie DiManno, hardly a bulwark of support for Black et al., lauds Ron Safer’s performance in defence of Mark Kipnis: “If nothing else, the defence lawyer managed to entertain, with pantomime, knuckle-rapping and discursive asides, while never losing control of a quite compelling narrative.”
Both Safer and Schachter portrayed their clients as worthy schleppers. And while they never came right out and said so, their purpose was clear: to put a little daylight between their clients and the other two co-defendants. On this score, it’s interesting to note the role that David Radler’s testimony played in the arguments for the defence. Broadly speaking, where Greenspan and Genson reiterated time and again the unreliability of just about anything Radler said, both Safer and Schachter suggested that portions of Radler’s testimony, particularly in reference to Kipnis’s “bonus,” were actually exculpatory. Can’t help but wonder to what extent Sussman will exploit this inconsistency in his rebuttal.
Defence winds up by making theatrical jury pitch [Globe and Mail]Defence exposes ‘red herrings’ [Ottawa Sun]Kipnis not in inner circle, lawyer argues [Chicago Tribune]A paper toss, and Top 10 skit in jury pitch [Toronto Star]Black trial nears deliberation phase [Toronto Star]Black trial defence lawyer urges jury to ignore ‘hunches and guesses’ [Guardian]Judge in Black case to charge jury today [Globe and Mail]
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