THUNDER BAY -- Closing submissions at the extortion trial of former Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs, his wife Marisa Hobbs, and friend Mary Voss will be made next Thursday.
Crown Attorney Peter Keen, as well as defence lawyers Brian Greenspan and George Joseph will present their final arguments to Justice Fletcher Dawson.
Keen noted on Day 1 of the trial that the judge should consider “who was driving the bus” when rendering his decision.
The Crown argues the three accused withheld incriminating video evidence of the alleged victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, from police and instead used that evidence to coerce him to buy a $429,000 home for Mary Voss.
The Crown contends the Hobbses, who were in deep financial trouble at the time planned to then borrow money from Voss, who could have used that house as collateral for a bank loan.
The accused vehemently deny those claims and insist they were set up by the alleged victim who planned the whole thing.
Closing submissions will be presented next Thursday, starting at 11 a.m before Justice Dawson delivers his decision sometime in the new year.
(TBT News)
Complete coverage of Hobbs trial:
Day 1: Keith Hobbs trial starts today
Witness testifies of interactions between Hobbs and alleged extortion victim
Day 2: Details of extortion allegations heard at Hobbs trial
Day 3: Videos from USB drive given by Hobbs shown in court
Day 4: Alleged extortion victim calls behaviour in videos horrid and awful
'Pack your toothbrush' Hobbs alleged warned extortion victim
Day 5: Alleged extortion victim trying to ‘buy silence:’ Greenspan
Day 6: Alleged extortion victim believes Voss was ‘swayed’ by Keith and Marisa Hobbs
Witness testifies of agreement signed between alleged extortion victim and accused
Day 7: More details emerge of alleged victim’s state in fall 2016 and the discovery of a will
Day 8: Homeowner testifies of Marisa Hobbs and Voss viewing $429,000 home
‘I have never extorted anyone’ Hobbs says during videotaped statement with OPP
Day 9: ‘We are guilty of being stupid:’ Marisa Hobbs tells police
Day 10: OPP investigator tells Voss ‘the truth will set you free’
Marisa Hobbs ‘won’t take no for an answer:’ Voss
Day 11: Voss believes alleged extortion victim 'set her up'
Day 12: Keith Hobbs testifies in extortion trial
Hobbs questioned about association with alleged extortion victim
Day 13: ‘I have never threatened (the victim):’ Hobbs testifies
Day 14: Evidence concludes in Hobbs, Voss extortion trial
