Well, believe it or not, the closing arguments in the Father Stephen Amesse trial will be heard today (Friday 10 March ’17). Crown and defence have each told the judge that his/her argument should take about an hour. The day starts at 10. I think it should wrap up around 1 pm.
We were moved into another courtroom yesterday (35). This one is smaller so, after enjoying lots of space and seating, we were all sort of jammed in like sardines 
Yesterday was Father Amesse’s cross examination. More to come on that later when I have time, but, I will tell you that he was like a different man on the stand. When he took the stand for his examination in chief he was really quite cool, calm, collected and articulate. Yesterday – well goodness it seemed to me he was a different man, alternating between impatience, outrage, indignation, stammering and stuttering, story-telling and then back to smiling.
And then there were the interruptions. Time after time the Crown had to tell Father Amesse not to interrupt, until finally she advised: ” Sir, I’m not sure you know how this works.”
None of this is indicative of outcome. I can tell you that I’ve seen priests who seem to dissolve before our very eyes during cross-examination before – sometimes there is an acquitted, sometimes a conviction.
Anyway, closing arguments today. The judge will then set a date for rendering his decision. I don’t know how soon that will be, but I do know that the courtroom is already booked for this Monday and Tuesday, and I do sense an urgency to get this wrapped up. I wonder if perhaps the judge can sort through testimony and come to a decision by Monday or Tuesday?
We shall see.
Please, as always, keep the complainant and his family in your prayers. I have had the good fortune to meet them all over the past few days. A lovely family.
Enough for now,
Sylvia