Xanthippa's Chamberpot

For the story of how I came to Toronto for this hearing, please see here.

For the anticipation of the trial before the courtroom opened, please see here.

For the very important (with immigration implications) cases heard before Eric’s came up, please see here.

Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, here is the ‘meat’ of the story:

It turns out that even though Mr. Brazeau was listed as ‘self represented’, his former counsel, a certain Misha, was there to speak on his behalf.

Let’s get this clear:  I have never seen this Misha before, nor had an contact with him, but, I don’t like him.  I don’t know why – call it a gut reaction, based on seeing him in court and briefly meeting him in person afterwards:  he might be a competent lawyer for all I know, but that ‘like’ button for me was just not clicked.  My subconscious mind put him squarely in with ‘the silly bunnies’…

Yet, it seems that when in court, he had ‘collaborated’ with the Crown and both had their ducks lined up in the same row:  Eric Brazeau is to be released on bail with the guarantee of two citizens in good standing willing to vouch for him and let him live with them.

Yes, yes, yes.

It was, somehow, anticlimactic…

But, until the actual appeal date (the day and month of which I did not catch, but I think it’ll be some time in June or July of this year..but when I do know, I will let you, my dear readers, know), Mr. Brazeau is out on bail!!!

No money to be paid, but he had to agree to certain conditions:  including staying off of public transit.

It turned out that the two guarantors into whose custody Eric had been released were siting in the courtroom, directly behind me.  Also in the courtroom was Miro, of BlogWrath, and his pretty wife Toshiko. Also there was Eric’s friend Ron.

It was a great pleasure for me to make their acquaintance!

So, there we were, waiting for the paperwork to be done.

For, before he could walk out, Eric and his guarantors had to sign tons of paperwork – in front of a justice of peace.  And the justice of peace had to clear all the cases before Eric’s first.

So, in the hallway of justice, we sat and waited…and chatted.  At this point, my friend Robert, who has been trying to raise the funds for Eric’s new lawyer fro BC to come to Toronto and represent him at the actual appeal, joined us.

And we waited..

…and we waited…

And, finally Eric came out!

Oh, what a glorious moment!!!

We met him with a standing applause and our arms outstretched for hugs!

A small victory in the grand scheme of things, perhaps, but a definite step in the right direction!!!

Long live Freedom!

Long live Eric!!!