Ashley Smith Inquest

http://www.570news.com/news/local/article/226635--inquest-begins-today

The Ashley Smith inquest in Toronto started with fierce arguments about how much evidence -- if any -- will be open to the public.

Counsel for the Smith family, Julian Falconer, led a passionate objection by several human rights and media organizations against a request filed by the Correctional Service of Canada to suppress all evidence from publication until the jury's conclusions are reached several months from now.

Among the strenuous arguments against such a suppression, Falconer and others object to the fact this request was filed late Friday afternoon, with the inquest set to begin the following Monday morning.

Falconer calls that motion unprecedented and embarrassing, but not understandable, saying the CSC wants a "trial by ambush."

Falconer went so far to say the initials CSC, for Correctional Service of Canada really stand for "Conceal, Suppress, and Contain."

Counsel for the CSC declined to speak to reporters during Day 1 of the inquest.

Coroner Dr. Bonita Porter says evidence presentations will start tomorrow as scheduled, with five crucial videos to be submitted in the first few days.

Porter says she is not willing to discuss a publication ban today with such short notice, and is suggesting Thursday or Friday this week as a possible time to have that discussion.

Porter will consider another request that the faces of any guards shown in photographic or video evidence be blurred in media publications on May 24.

Porter also decided that any media requesting a copy of documents, photos or videos presented at the inquest may do so by filling out a form currently in use.

Coroners counsel had suggested a revised form that would have barred media or any member of the public from letting any evidence make its way onto YouTube or similar non-media internet uses.

Porter declined to use such a form.

Lawyers representing media outlets, including the Globe and Mail, CBC, and the Toronto Star argued such a limitation would not be possible.
570's Mark Douglas was in Toronto, as Counsel for the Smith family, Julian Falconer comments on the CSC requesting all inquest exhibits be banned from publication until the end of the inquest, some five or six months away...