JURY STILL OUT IN ARTHUR TOPHAM TRIAL
On Monday, the prosecuting attorney Jennifer Johnson delivered her summation to the jury in the Arthur Topham free speech trial. Mr. Topham is charged under Canada’s notorious “hate law” (Sec. 319 of the Criminal Code) for “willfully promoting hatred against a ” privileged group — in this case Jews.
Defence lawyer Barclay Johson had presented his summation on Friday afternoon.
Tuesday both lawyers discussed the judge’s charge or instructions to the jury with him. These were delivered by the Judge Brian Butler Tuesday afternoon. The jury deliberated until 9:00 p.m.
The jury continued deliberations this morning. Barclay Johnson reports that they returned to court to ask the judge whether “hate” can be willfully conveyed, if there is no malice.