Session 38: My First Preliminary Hearing

On Wednesday August 7, 2013 Sarah Fountain with the able guidance of Assistant Crown Attorney Robert Wadden presented on the conduct of a preliminary hearing. 

This session addressed all kinds of issues related to the pre-lim process including witness prep, the calling of evidence, the test for committal, adding of counts, certiorari, and the early stages of the SCJ process. 

Sarah and Rob prepared an excellent powerpoint presentation: Sarah's First Prelim (will be posted shortly)

When in doubt, remember Waddy's sage advice: 

Your First Pre-liminary hearing-powerpoint

Session 27: Monster Mash-Up

This session was held on January 30, 2013. Given the influx of new members this session was intended to cover a variety topics already presented at earlier MCM-sessions. 

Assistant Crown Attorney and original MCM-Group member Fara Rupert presented an excellent demonstration of a witness prep (ideal and less so). Fara was ably aided (and abeted) by Deputy Crown Attorney Mark Moors. The demonstration spurred some excellent debate, one which has been and continues to be of interest at MCM group about what a Crown can, should and should not do in a prep meeting. 

Assistatn Crown Attorney Matthew Geigen-Miller then presented on the use of magic words in impaired and over 80 cases. Matthew's presentation involved real life examples from actual cases and most helpfully what the Crown can do to try to save the day. 

Sh*t Cops Say- No Magic Words Required

Session 24: The Law is for Chumps- you need better evidence- Improving Charter Responses with Evidence

On December 5, 2012 MCM-Group co-founder and repeat presenter MGM delivered a seminal MCM session on How to Woodshed (in a good/permissible/legal way) a Charter Response. The session covered the importance of prepping your witnesses, especially police witnesses on the Charter issues. There was some fierce debate on where the line is and should be when it comes to prepping such witnesses. The session was supervised by ACA Cavanagh. 

 Of note this was the session with the longest title so far... 

Although a sample Charter responses were discussed no materials were distributed at this session. 

Session 22: Prepping Child Witnesses

On October 17, 2012 Assistant Crown Attorney Lia Bramwell spoke to MCM-Group about the unique challenges that child witnesses pose. The importance of trial preparation was discussed as well as how to go about prepping a child witness. Other resources such as victim witness support and the child friendly equipment were discussed. 

Lia provided a helpful index of cases on assessing the evidence of children which will be posted shortly.