Defence Launches Mistrial Application in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Case
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LETHBRIDGE – A scheduled sentencing hearing for a woman convicted in a multi-million dollar fraud case has been put on hold, as the defence has presented a mistrial application.
They’re arguing that the Crown didn’t give Adina Barbour full disclosure so she could properlly defend herself at trial.
Barbour told the court that she gave all of the disclosure to her lawyer before the trial, and that when he quit he didn’t give it back to her. She stated that he was advised to return it to the Crown, who would then pass it on to her, something she says never happened.
As that was the fifth lawyer to withdraw from the case, Barbour was ordered to proceed to trial with or without legal counsel, and ended up representing herself.
When the Crown asked why Barbour didn’t raise the issue until the trial was set to begin, she first said it was because she was nervous, timid and unsure of the process. As the cross examination continued, she then claimed that she had brought the issue up before, but couldn’t say when.
Barbour was convicted of fraud and uttering a forged document last year, after being charged in 2010. She applied for mortgages under the names of friends, family and co-workers, and managed to bring in more than $2.8-million.
The mistrial application will continue Thursday (Aug 18) morning.
