There has been good coverage of the trail by local media outlets.
So far the people who testified were: Jay Philips, RCMP Const. Dean Biollo, Dean Soltz who interview the trio after the incident, Chris Kemila who shot the infamous video, and Adam's former common-law partner, Sonja Dickinson.
A lot of people are talking about how the relevance of Jay's past as a heroin addict 10 years ago played role in the altercation. Without being at the trial its hard to say, but a lot of people are saying the defense are just grasping at any strings they can get in a "smear campaign". Although I won't go as far as to say they're out to smear Jay Philips, but I think they might just be trying to vilify him.
There has been a lot of back lash towards the trio's defense counsel (aka lawyers). Its hard, but their job is to defend these guys and to make sure they get a fair trial. This includes exploring every avenue of defense. It may look bad on there part depending on your views, but these guys are just doing their job.
Comox Valley Record:
May 25th - Testimony underway
May 26th - Assault was racially motivated, Phillips testifies
CBC News:
May 26th - YouTube assault trial continues in B.C.
Vancouver Sun:
May 26th - Vancouver Island YouTube assault began with slurs: victim
CTV News:
May 26th - Courtenay YouTube assault trial begins
JetFM:
May 26th - YouTube Assault Trial Continues
I find it very interesting that for someone who is not attending these court dates, you have so much input on the entire subject. A lot IS being said about what is going on, but if you were actually there in person you would be able to see how much each person that has testified has a different story. Of course memory comes into play, and points are bound to vary, but you would also recognize that Jay Phillips is changing his story immensely and things are definitely not adding up. there is much to say about how the media has exposed the entire subject, plus the information that was given to the RCMP true AND false. I hope that this case brings light to how things can be quickly misconstrued and how rapidly people react to the worst in people. Yes, what the three accused of was shocking and horrifying, but it also could have been dealt with in a much more accurate and responsible manner, perhaps by sending the evidence of the fight that was recorded to the police instead of labeling it "3 white supremacists attack black male," or "hate crime," and then posting it carelessly onto youtube portraying these individuals as monsters when really you know absolutely nothing about these young men, who actually are loving human beings and deserve to be treated fairly just like anyone else. Many lives have been affected even ruined; accused and guilty by association and I just wish that people could understand that there are always two sides to a story and if people are so concerned, disgusted and upset about what they were exposed to, then maybe they should have found the time to look deeper into this and show their concern by showing their faces in the court room. I found it very interesting that in the heat of the moment and for most of the month of at least July, people were coming together to protest and show their support for Jay Phillips. Although yesterday and today looking around in the courtroom, only half of the seats were filled half of which are family members of the accused,the other half being mostly media. I'd also like to point out the fact that the media has crossed a lot of personal boundaries, not just of the 3 accused but also those of which that seem to be guilty by association. Peoples lives are personal and its unfortunate that certain news reporters have trespassed and exposed those that are not at all liable for what happened in that video. Its clear that you have put a lot of time and energy into this blog, and its much appreciated that you are staying up-to-date for those that are watching the case, but its also unfortunate that you have only taken the time to look into the lives of the trios criminal past and was not present to hear Jays past record that was brought up in court. Hope to see more faces tomorrow in court.
ReplyDeleteI would like to politely disagree with your point about how we only looked into the lives of the trio and not Jay’s.
ReplyDelete1) Burning crosses, playing with a noose on a tree, and socialising in a room full of racist imagery has ingrained racist ideals and attitudes into young adults, and in this case it was David White. The result: David shouting out racist remarks to a visible minority to incite anger and for a reaction. Or did he do it because he thought it was funny?
2) What does Jay’s past have to do with why David White called him “Nigger”? Just because of Jay’s criminal past, David has the right to call him that awful and hateful word?
I will agree with how unfairly they were labeled white supremacist. In the age of Facebook, email, and MSN, it’s really easy for rumours to spread. However, I have been to parties on the island before where guys with shaved heads say stuff like “what’s up with this nigger noise” when referring to rap music, and have handed out Neo-Nazi literature to me. And the room that David, Adam and Damien were hanging out in reminded me so much of that party in Campbell River – confederate flags, swastikas and other racist images on the walls. Are you sure they are not racist? And if so, are you also sure it did not play a role in how the fight was instigated?