Resumption of the trial of the accused of the MMA

Photo courtesy Sûreté du Québec
The tragedy of Lac-Mégantic had been 47 deaths.

QMI agency

Tuesday, 2 January 2018 18:50

UPDATE
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 18:52

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SHERBROOKE | The three former employees of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MMA) accused in connection with the tragedy of Lac-Mégantic will be back before the court at the courthouse of Sherbrooke, on Wednesday, for the start of the oral arguments of the defence and the Crown.

The train driver, Tom Harding, controller rail, Richard Labrie, and the director of the office of Farnham, John Demaître, face a total of 47 counts of criminal negligence because of their role in the derailment and explosion of a train in downtown Lac-Mégantic in July 2013. The tragedy had made 47 people.

The trial of the three accused had been adjourned on 12 December last, the judge Gaetan Dumas ruled that it was not appropriate to sequester the jury in a few days of Christmas.

During the trial, the Crown attempted to demonstrate that the three men have not applied enough brakes on the train carrying oil, which would have led to the derailment. To do this, the prosecution has heard 36 witnesses, and presented documents and records seized by the authorities.

The accused chose not to testify.

The argument could continue until the end of the week. Subsequently, the judge Dumas should give his instructions to the jury, who will be sequestered until they agree on a verdict.