video!!!

Charles Jackie

:Seperator bar Lower

E-mail-Courriel: oldmaison@yahoo.com
News - Stories and Rants

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Fredericton Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau lands in Fredericton New Brunswick!!

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Justin Trudeau lands in Fredericton!!!

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Miramichi-Grand Lake Federal NDP Candidate Patrick Colford is confronted by the Blogger!!



Fredericton Police gangs up on Homeless individual???

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Charles,

Hey, came across a bunch of cops roughing up a homeless guy. Don't know what the story was, or what he did. Just on my way to the gym the morning of Sept 4th, outside the Currie Center on UNB campus.

Looks like a lot of cops necessary to take down one homeless guy. The two ones in charge seemed to be laughing about something as the officers were holding him down.

Thought you might be interested. Do not in any way use my name if you publish it, thanks.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau to land in Fredericton today!!!

Will there be a huge energetic gathering such as last year???



New Brunswick!!!

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CUPE New Brunswick held protest across the river from Legislature on Labour Day!!!!



Sunday, 6 September 2015

Blogger Charles LeBlanc wish he was Gay!!!!


YouTube Video expresses Canadian Contempt for Harper


Originally published on The left Eye

By André Faust


Is Stephen Harper the most revered or despised prime minister in the history of Canada?

According to social media he is despised, there are countless of anti-Harper Facebook pages and groups to list a few;
  • Canadian Rally to Unseat Stephen Harper
  • National Stop Harper Campaign
  • Anti-Harper
  • Harper's Last Days
  • Vote Harper out
  • Stop Harper
  • Get Ride of Harper
  • Enough Harper
  • Anyone but Harper Conservatives
In addition to Facebook pages and groups there is a plethora of derogatory satirical images and videos of him throughout the internet. Leadnow independent advocacy organization who has launched the Vote Together campaign against Stephen Harper. Vote together is based on strategic block voting, with the focus on the swing ridings. The strategy is simple to vote for the Candidate who is most likely to win the riding who is not a Conservative.

Why is there such a growing disdain for Harper?

Inferring from the many discussions on social media and mainstream media. The main theme of the criticism seems to be on his autocratic style of governing and his economic policies. For Example The number of times Harper prorogued parliament as a minority government.
  • 2007 Prorogued Parliament so that he could have his legislation promoted in the following throne speech
  • 2008 Prorogued Parliament to avoid a vote of non-confidence
  • 2009 Prorogued Parliament to avoid the Afghan detainee issue
  • 2010 Prorogued Parliament to avoid having to answer questions from the opposition on the senate expense scandal
The number of omnibus bills that he used to pass unfavourable legislation. Omnibus bills are wolves in sheep’s clothing. An omnibus bill consists of a main bill with a main title, nested within the main bail is a multitude of other bills that may not even be related to the main title. Only the main bill is debated and voted on by members of parliament, if the main bill is passed the other nested bills are also past. Omnibus bills have been used by other prime ministers to expedite the parliamentary process, Harper's omnibus bills differ from his predecessors by being incredibly huge and his omnibus bill usually contains sub bills that are not related to the main bill. Listed below are the main omnibus bill that Harper has used to undermine the Canadian democratic process;

Click here to read full story.

Friday, 4 September 2015

Will this member of the Fredericton Police Force screw up one day???

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Is Fredericton MP Keith Ashfield better than the United Way?

Should picture of drown Syrian little boy be sensationalize???

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Yes...it is VERY sad....The whole world is watching and action are demanded the people feeing the war be welcome in Canada with open arms.

This reminds me of the boat loads of Vietnamese who came to Canada in the 1970s.

Before Social Media.

A home was built in Memramcook for a family and they kept to themselves. I never saw them going public.

Lets not forget this was a small Acadian Community and visible immigrants were rare.

Europe told the media yesterday that the Christian Culture would be at risk if the onslaught of immigrants continues.

I was thinking of what they said and the first thing that came to my mind was the Supreme Court ordering no more prayers before Municipal Meetings across Canada.

The problem is these days, the minute these immigrants lands in Canada? They demand rights and will go against other religious culture that have been around for hundreds of years.

Is this right???

I know of many born Canadian people who are in dire straight but nothing is done.

I do have a VERY sad story that was done right here in Fredericton.

I don't want to act like a Donald Trump. I am not against importing immigrants. < Me mother is one > but it scares me to hear these immigrants inflicts their views on other cultures or religions once they set foot in Canada.

AS for the picture of the little Boy? Should it be sensationalize???

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This reminds me the this picture in the 1940s -

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Before social media? These pictures would have been shown once or twice.

You will see the picture of the little boy for weeks, months and years to come.

Mind you this is not 1970...it is the year 2015!!!

My God....we have Quebecois coming here and demand their French rights in this Province....yes...we all living in a different world these days...:(

P.S. On a another note - People get VERY angry at me when I take pictures of car accidents. They always tell me to respect their privacy!!!

Maybe the same should be done in this case???..Non???

Tuesday, 1 September 2015

God salutes the Pro Life activists in Fredericton.....

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Right into the Building....:)

Two Unsung Heroes in Fredericton.....

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DO NOT SHOPLIFT ON A SUNDAY MORNING AT THE SUPERSTORE IN FREDERICTON!!!!

A By-Stander point of view on Blogger Charles LeBlanc's hearing!!!!

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JUSTICE NEW BRUNSWICK STYLE

Hearing 26th August 2015: R. v. LeBlanc

At Charles’ hearing, on 26th August, Miramichi Detective Constables Greg Scott and Shane Henderson testified, under oath, for the Crown. Scott testified he swore on oath, before Julian Dickson, that he “had reasonable and probable grounds to believe, and does believe” Charles assaulted Andrew Spencer, July 3, 2014. On cross examination Scott said, if he had known certain other information, he was not sure he would have sworn the charge.

The judge refused to allow video evidence to be played, that Charles knows would prove Spencer filed a false complaint, and the police and Crown never had a case. The video interview was the reason Andrew Spencer - our drunk, abusive “poet” - crossed a street and confronted Charles. The police officers both swore, again and again, Spencer “confronted” Charles, Spencer admitted to “confronting” Charles, the confrontation was about the video interview, and neither of them had viewed the interview, or obtained a copy. They had no idea the interview was uploaded two years before Spencer suddenly decided to confront Charles about it. The Crown and judge said all of that is irrelevant, and asked Charles to stick to the facts!

This is the video the so-called Poet is all upset about - <Miramichi Police believe I'm producing Child porn with this video >



The judge even interrupted to stop the police answering certain questions. He also argued the Crown case. He interrupted Charles a lot, clearly didn’t want him to cross examine the officers, and seemed to have decided to throw out Charles’ motion before he even stepped into the court room. He interrupted the first officer’s testimony to say, if the second officer gave the same evidence, the charge was properly sworn and the motion would be dismissed. Many times McLean said he was accommodating Charles, as a self-represented defendant. In truth, he just kept interrupting, to confuse and distract him.

McLean also told Charles the judges have nothing to do with transcripts and court audio, do not even see the applications, and he could not think of anything he could do to help with that matter, which is not accurate. The court administration told Charles Justice Dickson refused his application, for the audio recordings of the hearings, prior to McLean taking over. I, and others, have been told: release of court recordings must be approved by the presiding judge. Justice McLean told Charles he had been a criminal defence lawyer for many, many years, so he knew Charles should have been granted the entire proceeding so far, on disk, for $20.

S/Sgt. Matt Myers sent this allegation to the Miramichi, and instigated a prosecution, with no evidence to support it, other than the word of a drunk, abusive street person.

Let us not forget: Myers was one of the arresting officers, in the monumentally flawed attempt to charge and convict his fellow officer, Jeff Smiley. At the Smiley trial Myers admitted, under oath, that he argued with Smiley and they were not on good terms. We have to ask if he wanted revenge on Smiley. The judge threw the assault charge out, for lack of jurisdiction; ten or more FPF and RCMP officers “did not notice” the alleged offence was in Nova Scotia, and they had no jurisdiction. How did they not notice, through eight months of “investigation”? The Crown and Myers wanted to proceed with the breach of undertaking but the judge threw that out as well, saying: if the original charge does not go to trial, any related undertaking is invalid.

Justice David Walker called the police investigation “fundamentally flawed,” and “sloppy”. I think he was being polite.

In December 2014, Smiley told the press:

“...this was a negligent, vindictive investigation dr/>irected at me. I will be filing a formal complaint against the Fredericton Police Force and the RCMP for misconduct, including perjury, fabricating evidence and falsifying police documents, amongst others.” The article went on to say: “Smiley wrote he’s concerned officers who investigated and arrested him might have violated the rights of others in other cases.”

During a recess, between examination of the Miramichi officers, they asked Charles to bring some friends and speak to them. They asked him to sign a peace bond and the prosecution would end! Charles said: if Spencer wants to sign a peace bond, to stay away from him, great. That offer is a sure sign the cops and Crown need a way out.

This proceeding against Charles is not a prosecution – it is persecution. It is systemic abuse of power and a waste of public funds, as this City and province slide deeper into debt. It is time Woodside took responsibility for his rogue police force.

All kinds of trick in the Stephen Harper campaign Trail!!!

Stephen Harper Bag of Tricks

Monday, 31 August 2015

Future New Brunswick Nurses learned a lot about Poverty in Fredericton!!!!!

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Once in a while during the hot summer months, these girls would offer me a nice cold bottle of water.

Last Friday, they walked by me and I took a pic. < Surprise? >

I shouted - When are you girls done???

It was their final walk for the summer month so I decided to do a video...one woman uickly escape...lol..

This could be one of my finest...pay attention to the girls honest views on Poverty...




Playing the Accordion at the Farmer's Market in Fredericton!!!!



The only guy who can MAYBE find peace between the Blogger and the Fredericton Police Force???

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Sunday, 30 August 2015

Judge tells blogger to stop bringing up irrelevant issues at hearing

D0N MAGPHERS0N ~ Fredericton Daily Gleaner
August 27, 2015

Charles LeBlanc, a blogger was in court on Wednesday.
Photo: Don MacPherson/Daily Gleaner Archive

A Fredericton blogger's arguments to quash an assault charge against him before trial didn't seem to persuade a judge on Wednesday.

Charles Joseph LeBlanc, 56, of 1-145 Westmorland St. faces a summary charge of assault, alleging an incident involving complainant Andrew Spencer on July 3, 2014.

LeBlanc who's representing himself after being denied legal aid, filed several pre-trial motions with the court,and a hearing to determine those issues resumed in provincial court on Wednesday.

The motion the court was dealing with first on Wednesday was the one in which  LeBlanc contends the charge against him should be quashed because he alleges it wasn't properly sworn before a judge.

To refute that allegation,Crown prosecutor Sebastien Michaud called two members of the Miramichi Police Force as witnesses: Const Shane Henderson and Const. Greg Scott. 

Henderson testified he conducted the investigation at the request of the Fredericton Police Force.

The alleged assault reportedly occurred in Fredericton, but given the city police force's contentious history with LeBlanc, it asked the outside police agency to handle the case.

Henderson testified about his investigation, noting he interviewed Spencer and took a video statement from him.

He also noted he learned from a video LeBlanc posted on YouTube in November there was a witness to the incident: Terry Wishart. Henderson got a sworn, video-recorded statement from him as well, and he said Wishart's comments supported Spencer's report.

"Mr. Wishart did state that Mr. LeBlanc did strike Mr. Spencer with a closed fist" Henderson said.

Furthermore,the officer said, LeBlanc made comments in his own video that were consistent wilh what the investigation had revealed to that  point.

As such, he said, he felt he had reasonable and probable grounds to believe  LeBlanc had assaulted Spencer by striking him once in the head with a closed fist.

 Testimony presented at the motion hearing doesn't constitute proof beyond a reasonable doubt. and despite what was said, LeBlanc remains innocent of the charge until proven guilty.

Under cross-examination by LeBlanc, Henderson said he did check the area in downtown Fredericton where the assault is alleged to have occurred to determine if any video camera captured those events. He said he found no video.

"I wish I had that" Henderson said.

"I wish you did too. It would've proven that I'm not guilty," LeBlanc countered.

Henderson noted he relayed the details and progress of his investigation to Scott, a fellow Miramichi police detective. Scott is the one who travelled to Fredericton on Jan, 2 and laid the information with the court, swearing he believed it to be true.

Scott testified he also had reasonable and probable grounds to believe the assault had occurred. He noted he relied on the information Henderson had provided to form those ground.

Judge Brian Mclean noted, as LeBlanc had argued in his written motion, that an officer who swears a charge must have knowledge of the file and believe there's reasonable and probable grounds to support it.

Though the judge has yet to rule on LeBlanc's motion. he repeatedly told the defendant the Miramichi officers' testimony appeared to support the Crown's contention the charge was properly sworn.

Throughout his cross-examination of the police witnesses, LeBlanc tried to explore Spencer's reasons for confronting him in downtown Fredericton at the time of the alleged incident, which was alleged to be irritation he felt over  LeBlanc's video interview of a father and son he conducted for his blog some time ago.

However, Mclean told LeBlanc he needed to focus his attention and the court's on the issue at the heart of his motion that the charge wasn't properly sworn.

The judge said the video wasn't relevant at this point in the proceedings, and he noted it appeared  LeBlanc was trying to try the case rather than deal wilh his pre-trial motions. 

LeBlanc argued that since he was charged summarily, he didn't have the opportunity to have a preliminary hearing to determine if there was sufficient evidence to set the matter over for a trial.

He said he was using the hearings on his motion as a substitute for a preliminary hearing.

This is not a preliminary hearing the judge said.

Mclean reminded him again to limit himself to the issues pertinent to the motion before the court. He said he hoped to get through the hearings on Wednesday, but the digressions were slowing down the process.

"I apologize, I didn't know there was a time limit to get justice,"   LeBlanc retorted.

When cross-examining Scott, LeBlanc repeatedly tried to raise the issue of his conflicts with members of the Fredericton Police Force but the judge kept telling him it wasn't relevant.

Furthermore, Mclean said, Scott had testified he wasn't familiar with the blogger's controversial history with the Fredericton force.

The court also heard evidence relating to another motion  LeBlanc filed that contends the Crown hasn't made full disclosure to the defence.

Henderson testified repeatedly that LeBlanc had been provided with all of the material he had from his file and that nothing was held back.

LeBlanc Told the court he believes there was email communication between members of the Fredericton and Miramichi police forces, suggesting officers in the capital had been influencing the investigation.

He reiterated several times throughout the proceedings on Wednesday that he's in over his head and needs a lawyer.

After a full day of testimony and representations before the court,the hearing adjourned, and Mclean scheduled its continuation for Sept. 18.

The assault trial itself has yet to be scheduled.


Peace Officers Memorial Day in Fredericton!!!



VERY smart Cop in the Fredericton Police Force!!!

fredericton

Saturday, 29 August 2015

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside emailed Blogger Friday to say he's going to prove Blogger is a Pedophile!!!

Boy??? I told a few people and I am VERY upset...I will respond with a youtube comment....truly stay tuned....This is going to get VERY ugly!!!

I was surprised especially after doing this one on one with the Mayor Thursday morning....:(



I just noticed this old video..you newcomers will enjoy this one...



The good old days before this pedophile thing started....grrrr......

UPDATE - It's a letter from the law firm representing the City so therefore it represents the Mayor.....stay tuned.....

I deserve one after a VERY hard few hours....:)

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SUPER FULL MOON TONIGHT...ALL KINDS OF CAR ACCIDENT IN FREDERICTON!!! SLOW DOWN!!!!

IT's 4:00pm!!!!!..The scanner is going nuts!!!!!

Friday, 28 August 2015

Dreaming for big future assignments to come!!!

cbc

Mike Richardson on today's Gregory Despres appearance for Mental Health Review!

Mike was one of the first one I interviewed - May 2007!!! https://ia902703.us.archive.org/13/items/mikerichardson2/mikerichardson.mp3 Made this one morning -



>

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.
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This was one of the first interview I ever did for this blog. Click below

<a href="http://www.broadcastnb.com/";
target="_blank">Charles
Blog

Citizen is grabbed by Drunken Poet Andrew Spencer last night in Fredericton. Weapon is destroyed!





Many people are avoiding a part of Downtown because of this idiot swinging his stick around...Fredericton Police are turning their heads....after last night...The Idiot so-called Poet weapon is gone!!!!

Can you imagine if a Judge gives the OK to this idiot to attack the citizens on the Streets???

This is what our fearless Police Force are pushing...Chaos!!!

Truck Drivers are illiterate in Fredericton!!!

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Blogger behaved at Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch so Cops should be at his door in morning!!!!


Wednesday, 26 August 2015

New Movie Premiere to hit Fredericton!!!

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Racist Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch to praise in the morning innocent citizens being accuse of exploiting Kids for sex!!!

FPF Application to ISP by Charles LeBlanc



...and you have Cops like River Rat Matt Myers accusing me to be a pedophile???? This idiot will be on the stand on September 18 and I can't wait to cross examine this Rat!!!

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He's the worst low life this City have ever seen and Police Chief Leanne Fitch supports these dirty cops????

I wonder if our Mayor will join the News Conference???

P.S. If these idiots Cops shows up at your door??? Call the R.C.M.P. and order them to take a Breathalyzer in front of you!!!

New Brunswick Justice System must educate themselves on the court transcript issue!!!!!

CHARLES LEBLANC - Copy to PDF - COPIER IMAGEfuckup

Hi Charles,

JUSTICE DENIED!

Repeated requests by Blogger Charles Leblanc for court transcripts are blocked by the court.

Our justice system is fueled by court documents. Lawyers rely on transcripts to keep track of the court proceedings.

Charles is representing himself. He needs access to the court transcripts so that he has a record of witness testimony and cross-examination. Without this record, he does not have the actual statements to prepare for future questioning of witnesses and the Crown.

After his 5th appearance in the courtroom for this case, Charles asked for a copy of the transcripts that had been collected to date. But justice was denied.

First Charles filled out the application for transcripts and submitted it to the Provincial Court office. He returned 2 weeks later and the transcript records were all ready for him in a pile of papers. But the Court office told Charles that he would have to pay $399 for the transcripts. When Charles said he was on social assistance and could not afford to pay that amount, the Court office told him he could not have the transcript. There was no recourse offered to Charles.

Does the Court office not have a copy machine? It takes 30 seconds to put a pile of papers in a copier, press "Copy to PDF", and make a digital copy of the papers. Why was Charles not offered a digital copy of the transcript on a CD or memory stick?

Next, Charles asked Minister of Justice Stephen Horseman for help and he arranged to have a justice lawyer meet with him. The Justice Department employee told Charles he would not get copies of the transcripts.

Finally, in today's appearance in front of Judge Brian McLean, Charles asked the court for an explanation why he was denied a copy of the transcripts. He spent the next half-hour pleading with the court to provide him these transcripts. It was a futile exercise and laid bare how uncaring the whole legal system was towards people on social assistance. Not one person in that courtroom - the judge, the Crown Prosecutor, the City of Fredericton police force - offered to ask the Court office if there was a way to provide these transcripts to Charles.

First he was denied a lawyer by Legal Aid. Now the system has denied him access to transcripts.

Is someone going to come forward and find a way to get these transcripts to Charles? City of Fredericton? Mayor and Council? Crown Prosecutor's Office?

The silence is deafening.

Would it not be possible for Mayor Woodside to ask someone in the Provincial Court to "Copy to PDF"? Here is an easy-to-understand YouTube that shows how this is quickly done on a copy machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ-lTx26JNg

How to Scan Documents (2:47) April 28, 2011

Blogger Charles LeBlanc needs a Lawyer...NOW!!!!!!




The Fredericton Irving Paper came out with a story and it's not that bad. I might add the Journalist Don MacPherson wasn't present at the beginning of the hearing.

He missed the part that I was denied the right to the Transcript. I believe it's VERY scary the less fortunate are not allowed to have access to the transcript especially to prove the Prosecutor LIED to the Court.

Sabastien Michaud told the court that I lied by saying that I didn't know this so-called idiot Poet???

This is the video he said I mentioned his name twice -



The video truly shows the idiot poet going after the citizen and the court might rule that he's allowed to lash out at the citizens in this City!!!!

15 supporters showed up in Court this morning < thank God it was raining! >...:P

Seriously, I appreciate the support in the Court Room and on the Streets.

As I always said - The system is on trial in this case. The Justice system is racist against the less fortunate and especially with people with mental illness.

Now....On September 18 the court want me to cross examine racist Cops River Rat Matt Myers and John Lally!!!

How can I stay calm knowing these assholes labelled me as a pedophile???

Their views will be posted shortly.....

Bottom line?..I NEED A LAWYER!!!

Here's a comment from a reader of the Irving Website to the story -

I'm not sure I understand this.

Let's see: Spencer sought out LeBlanc and confronted him over a possibly inappropriate video interview, things heated up and that resulted in a blow by LeBlanc on his confronter, Spencer.

City police seized upon this opportunity to avenge themselves on whistle-blower LeBlanc and requested the Miramichi police to help with the investigation.

The taxpayers of the City of Fredericton and the Province of NB are paying a fortune to try and convict an irritating blogger who should have got a fine to begin with.

Mr. Leblanc, Stop costing me money. Take responsibility for losing your temper and pay a fine.

City of Fredericton, identify the party responsible for this expensive investigation and fire them.

Blogger to cross examine Racists Members of the Fredericton Police Force this morning!!!

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Wait till the public hears how the interfered with the evidence to convict the citizens!!!!

Truly stay tuned!!!

9:30am!!!!

Alien...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/httpoldmaisonblogspotcom/189101675/in/photostream/

I'm learning....

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Tuesday, 25 August 2015

He is missed....:(

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THE MASTER COMMANDER IN CHIEF!!!!

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I EXPECT ALL MY 400 FACEBOOK FRIENDS AND 1,000 TWITTER FOLLOWERS TO BE IN COURT IN THE MORNING TO SUPPORT MOI!!!!

9:30AM!!!

Trees are long gone...

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The good old days of short campaigns!!!

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Strange this was 9 years ago!!!

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Tomorrow the Liberal Government wit5h Stephen Horsman will announce the less fortunate in this Province will be attack and jailed without any trials!!!

Maybe it's time we bring back the old retirees from the Fredericton Police????

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Who's this guy???

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Friends of Charles LeBlanc denounce rejection of legal aid

Charles-Defence-Fund
Picture source http://charlesleblancdefencefund.com/
Written by Asaf Rashid on August 25, 2015

Originally Published NB Media Co-op

A groups called Friends of Justice has started a defence fund to help well known Fredericton blogger Charles LeBlanc afford a lawyer to fight a summary assault charge. LeBlanc receives social assistance and cannot afford a lawyer on his own.

The defence fund site, administered by Friends of Justice, states that the goal of their efforts will be to raise $5,000. They expect the trial to go well beyond the next court date, on August 26, and estimate that legal costs will mount. Friends of Justice says that the fund is independent of LeBlanc and that the money will go towards LeBlanc’s legal costs, not to him directly, with any remainder going towards poverty related charities.

LeBlanc applied for Legal Aid for for his first court appearance in April, but was refused. He appealed in May and was refused a second time.

Leblanc’s supporters have raised concerns over the denial of Legal Aid to LeBlanc.

“If you’re charged on a summary offence, the likelihood you’ll qualify for legal aid is highly remote,” says Andre Faust, spokesperson of Friends of Justice.

Faust stresses that this is a problem, “The judge has latitude on a summary offence to sentence you for up to 6 months in jail or fine you up to $5000.”

Faust says that in LeBlanc’s case, a judge could lean towards a harsher sentence. “Given that he’s embarrassed people in the structure, there may be what I call judicial bias against him.”

Faust is referring to LeBlanc’s blog, which pulls no punches in its criticism of local police, politicians and government bureaucrats.

“There’s a good chance he could face jail time if he represents himself,” Faust warns.

The concern is well founded. In 2010, Melina Buckley wrote a report for the Canadian Bar Association titled, Moving Forward on Legal Aid.

“The coverage criteria currently in place generally deny legal representation to low-income accused who have been charged with minor offences even though the impact of a criminal record would be extremely serious for them … unrepresented accused are often vulnerable and disadvantaged due to their personal characteristics, low levels of education and literacy, and higher rates of drug and alcohol addiction. Regardless of the seriousness of the charges against them, these individuals cannot adequately advocate for themselves. Many of them end up in prison as a result,” Buckley explains in the report.

The unrepresented fare worse than those with lawyers in both criminal and civil cases, the point being that the unrepresented generally cannot match lawyers in a courtroom. A report by Dr. Jula Hughes and E.L. MacKinnon in 2007, If there were Legal Aid in New Brunswick … a Review of Legal Services in New Brunswick emphasizes the disparity.

“The judges we consulted were unanimous in their conclusion that an unrepresented litigant is much less likely to achieve a favourable outcome than a represented litigant, particularly when self representation was not a choice,” the authors state.

In a comment to the NB Media Coop about LeBlanc’s predicament, Hughes stresses that the lack of legal aid coverage for someone facing a summary charge results in many problems. She says, “(Unrepresented) are not able to effectively participate in a criminal trial, so the consequences are more wrongful convictions, inappropriate pleas, delays, adjournments, longer trials, inappropriate sentences.”

Faust understands what LeBlanc is up against. For his next court appearance on August 26, LeBlanc is expecting to represent himself, as no legal representation has yet been secured.

“Charles has got to go up against an experienced Crown prosecutor who knows the court procedures and worked with judges on many occasions. Charles walks in without having that sophistication. The other Handicap that Charles has with self representation is his ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). He can’t focus,” says Faust.

In a statement on his blog, LeBlanc emphatically states, “I told the court many, many times, I’m not a lawyer. I need a lawyer.”

Faust adds, “We believe the allegations are groundless and that Charles has several defences available to him: however, because of his ADHD, lack of legal knowledge and experience he cannot articulate those defences to the court’s satisfaction.”

The defence fund site points out the LeBlanc is at risk of losing everything. “Charles receives an income assistance cheque of $567 per month. He lives in subsidized housing and if he goes to jail, he may end up homeless.”

Supporters of LeBlanc want to make clear that although they are currently putting their energy towards helping LeBlanc afford a lawyer, this issue is not just about LeBlanc.

“At the end of the day, we’re hoping that we can level the playing field,” says Faust. He notes that LeBlanc’s case touches on a number of important social issues. “This is a case that challenges legal aid, poverty and mental health
.”

Long gone....

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