Trial Essay Research Paper Ludwig trial put — страница 2
Yugoslavia. He blames the RCMP for both the problems with the prosecution’s case and the death of Karman Willis, a 16-year-old girl who was shot on Ludwig’s Trickle Creek Farm last summer. No one was ever charged in the shooting. Last month, during the vandalism trial, Bilodeau wrote a letter to prosecutor George Combe in which he said the RCMP failed to disclose information because it drew attention to its inaction. “From all the available evidence, it only appears that we (the RCMP), in order to protect our prior inaction in the earliest stages of the global series of events that surround the matters before the court, dug a hole to cover the prior inaction. “It appears that we have continued to dig that same hole, until . . . we managed to bury a 16-year-old girl in that same hole.” Whether or not the RCMP bear any blame for Willis’s death, their oilpatch vandalism investigation may cost the Crown any convictions against Ludwig and Boonstra on the remaining 27 charges. Officials of Alberta Energy Company testified that they were growing increasingly frustrated by the RCMP’s lack of results in investigating incidents of vandalism. Although they weren’t mentioned at the trial, some of the early incidents were quite serious. In one, someone placed a propane cylinder inside a shack at a sour gas well and fired bullets at it. Fortunately, the cylinder didn’t explode, which could have released deadly sour gas over a wide area. After repeated meetings with the RCMP over such incidents, AEC officials concluded the problem was lack of resources. Defence lawyer Paul Moreau has claimed that the money and other assistance provided by the energy companies allowed them to steer the police in the direction of Ludwig, a vocal critic of their industry. Because of that, Moreau says Justice Sterling Sanderman should clear Ludwig even if the evidence points to his guilt. During the trial, Sanderman referred to the possibility of an “unholy alliance” between the RCMP and Alberta Energy Company – although evidence did show the RCMP rebuffed offers of help from AEC’s security firm. Sanderman is expected to deliver his ruling on April 19. Alberta RCMP will wait and see what he says before deciding if they need to examine their role, said Supt. Dennis Massey. “The evidence is before the court, it’s in their hands. Let them make their decision and we’ll go from there.” But Funicelli shakes his head at the whole mess. He hopes the new funding will prevent it from happening again, but asks why the situation exists in the first place. “If we had that kind of funding going back a few years, we would not have to compromise our position as we have, I think.” A quick primer of the case facing Wiebo Ludwig and Richard Boonstra and highlights of the arguments: Counselling – Five counts. Crown points to wiretap evidence of Ludwig and RCMP informant Robert Wraight discussing purchase of dynamite and Ludwig paying for it. Defence says tape shows purchase was Wraight’s idea, not Ludwig’s. Vandalism conspiracy – Nine counts, relating to attacks on two wells. Crown has suggestive wiretap comments on bombs and timers, defendant’s arrest near bombed wellsite, explosive residue on Ludwig’s hands, video and photos of burning wellhead in Ludwig’s possession. Defence says comments are ambiguous, evidence circumstantial, Wraight’s testimony unreliable. Explosives conspiracy – Three counts relating to possession. Crown has wiretap of defendants discussing purchase, videotape of them picking up fake dynamite. Defence says purchase was Wraight’s idea, no dynamite found at Trickle Creek. Explosives possession – One count. Crown points to pickup of fake dynamite. Defence suggests RCMP entrapment. —
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