It was two years in the making and it got started Monday with a plea of not guilty from the three accused in a Thunder Bay extortion trial. Former Mayor Keith Hobbs, his wife Marisa and their co-accused Mary Voss are facing the charge concerning an alleged victim of extortion. They are accused of trying to get the victim to buy a house for one of the accused.
There is a media ban in place covering the names of certain witnesses in this case. In this case the victim of extortion can’t be named.
There was almost an hour delay to the start of the trial. The court day was to start at 10 o’clock in courtroom 205 but technical difficulties led to a room change down the hall to courtroom 206. As staff and observers made their way to the new location, Keith Hobbs helped carry two boxes for lawyers into the new room.
Crown Attorney Peter Keen explained to Justice Fletcher Dawson about some of the evidence he was to hear this morning; however, because of the nature of this evidence the media can’t publish the details of it.
Keen told the judge, the extortion, in this case, is an ugly crime to prosecute because of the actions of the alleged victim. The prosecutor told the court, there was no relationship between the alleged victim and the accused couple before October of 2016. After that date, Keen says the Hobbses contact with the alleged victim became more heavily involved. Keen claims the Hobbs family was facing some financial restraints during this time and received a cheque from the alleged victim.
According to the opening statement from the Crown, the heart of the case involves the purchase of a house in Thunder Bay that cost in the $400,000 range, which involved the alleged victim and the accused.
Evidence is expected to be presented that details the text message exchanges between the parties involved in this case detailing the purchase of a home. In Keen’s final statement to the court before the lunch break, he said this case comes down to who the judge will find responsible for “who is driving the bus” in relation to the purchase of a home for one of the accused. The crown alleges this is a case of extortion using a graphic video as a threat against the alleged victim in order for the accused to obtain a house.
Update at 2:44 p.m.
Keen describes the first witness Craig Loverin as being present for many key moments in this case. His testimony came to an abrupt halt over a dispute over procedural issues. The 38-year-old is a family friend of the alleged victim.
Once the legal dispute over procedural issues was resolved Craig Loverin was brought back to the stand. His testimony detailed the alleged victim’s drinking habits around the October 2016 time frame. He talked about seeing several 60 oz bottles of Grey Goose vodka, some full and some empty in the victim’s home. Loverin explained to the crown he made note of this drinking in connection to what was going on in the victim’s life. Loverin explained that the victim seemed to be drinking on some of the days he would visit.
The relationship between the Hobbses and Loverin is now the focus of the closing minutes of the court day. The witness had met Marisa when he was looking for the alleged victim after they went missing. When it came to his relationship with the former Mayor, he said the alleged victim put Keith Hobbs on the phone with him even after he said he didn’t want to talk to Hobbs.
Tuesday morning will see Loverin continue his testimony. It’s possible the crown could call another witness once the family friend of the victim wraps up his recount of what he remembers from the alleged extortion.
