#sandro lisi

[onpoli]

Toronto’s upcoming municipal election is already fraught with controversy and Saturday night saw an arguably contentious character enter the race.

Alexander “Sandro” Lisi — friend and driver of former mayor Rob Ford — is now running to be the Toronto District School Board trustee in Etobicoke North.

Lisi became infamously known as the late Ford’s sidekick in one of Toronto’s most scandalous eras.

Back in 2013 he was charged with extortion for allegedly trying to retrieve video of mayor Ford smoking crack from gang members.

In 2015 Lisi was acquitted on several drug-related charges and in 2016 the extortion charges were also withdrawn. That paved the way for the infamous “crack video” to be released.

In 2001 Lisi was convicted of criminal harassment and in a separate incident, pleaded guilty to threatening assault and criminal harassment.

[yahoonewsdigest-ca]

Friend of ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford ill as trial on drug charges sputters

Canada News

Friend of ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford ill as trial on drug charges sputters

A hearing into drug charges against a friend of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford began Tuesday with the accused a no show, one count against him withdrawn, and his co-accused making an extraordinary request to be excused from trial. Alexander (Sandro) Lisi, who was also Ford's sometimes driver, was ill and did not appear for what was to be the start of the trial, forcing a premature end to the day's hearing. His lawyer, Domenic Basile, told court Lisi suffers from vertigo and his mother said he had been throwing up.Ultimately, Khawly put the hearing over until Wednesday, warning that if Lisi did not appear, "all bets are off." Lisi, 36, was charged in October 2013 as the "crack video" scandal engulfed the notorious former mayor, now a city councillor. The charges against him and co-accused Jamshid Bahrami — both are out on bail — arose as police investigated Ford amid reports of a video that apparently showed him smoking crack cocaine. At the time, Ford called Lisi a "good guy" and expressed shock at the charges.

The court is not going to be a party to a situation where someone is allowed to have their trial in their absence. It smacks of injustice. I will not do a trial in his absence.

Judge Ramez Khawly

Lisi faced four counts: trafficking in marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime, possession of marijuana, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, namely trafficking. Prosecutor Kerry Benzakein told court she was withdrawing the conspiracy charge and suggested she might be willing to drop the possession charge as well. Lisi is also in the middle of a preliminary hearing in a separate case in which he faces an extortion charge related to efforts to retrieve the notorious "crack video."

[matttbastard]

"Lisi’s case lifts Mr. Ford’s spectacle from questions of judgment, personal weakness, perhaps of addiction and a seedy private life and dumps it squarely in the realm of violent criminality, suggesting broader lawlessness, such as obstruction of justice or destruction of evidence, alongside questions over potential vulnerability of the mayor’s office."

How one video dragged Rob Ford into the dangerous world of gangsters | National Post

[bradmac91]

Things to remember amid the chaos

Good afternoon everyone, you weren't dreaming. Yesterday actually happened.

Mayor Rob Ford got into a shouting match with Toronto media at his home.

A search warrant gave a look into Ford's friendship with Sandro Lisi. 

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said: "The video files depict images that are consistent with what has previously been reported," about the alleged Rob Ford crack video.

Ford said he has "No reason to resign." 

The Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and National Post all called for Ford to step down. The Globe and Mail said "Toronto deserves better." 

Ford's lawyer, Dennis Morris, spoke this morning, saying Ford wasn't smoking crack cocaine in the video. 

So, the takeaway here is Ford again denying he smokes crack cocaine. It isn't surprising that he said this. Denial, accusation, and ignorance are his go-to defences. 

But, here are some things to consider as we wait to see what happens next:

Ford has not sued anyone. He has been accused of smoking crack cocaine and of uttering racist and homophobic remarks. If none of these things are true, then he can sue for defamation. 

Defamation (via Media Law for Canadian Journalists) is:

"A tort arising from a false or malicious attack on the reputation of a person."

False accusations of drug use, and prejudice are absolutely grounds for a lawsuit. 

Morris suggested that Ford might have been smoking marijuana or tobacco in the alleged video. Reports from Gawker's John Cook, and the Toronto Star's Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan say the device Ford is smoking from appears to be a crack pipe. 

After some research on the Internet, it appears smoking these things from a crack pipe is possible, but it's not common or recommended. 

Ford is allowed to talk about the alleged crack video despite saying he can't. He is allowed to defend himself. Law experts agree. 

Finally, I'd like to point out again, that Rob Ford has commented on matters before the court in the past. 

In March 2013, Richard Kachkar was on trial for the murder of Sgt. Ryan Russell of the Toronto Police Service. Kachkar's defence was arguing that he was not criminally responsible for the murder. Ford phoned into a radio program and voiced his displeasure with that defence. 

At this point, it's difficult to imagine what will happen next. City Hall was chaotic yesterday, and there's reason to believe there's no end in sight. Reporters will continue to ask their questions, and many of Ford's colleagues are fed up with the sideshow. 

It's easy to forget beyond this chaotic mess, there's a city that needs to function. Important business is addressed every day at City Hall. And right now, the Rob Ford saga is getting in the way. Ford says he won't step down, but he's not answering any questions.

City Council meets again in less than two weeks.

Something's gotta give. 

[Photo taken by Brad MacDonald, @bradmac91] 

[bradmac91]

"I have no reason to resign."

That’s what Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said about revelations from Toronto Police Chief, Bill Blair’s press conference today.

Blair says the alleged crack video is now in possession of Toronto Police. 

"The video files depict images that are consistent with what has previously been reported" said Blair. 

Ford also said he cannot comment because the issue was “before the courts”. He would not say what the “issue” was. 

Yesterday, Ford said he could not comment on the release of Sandro Lisi’s search warrant. Today it was confirmed the warrant has connections to Ford. 

Ford has commented on court cases in the past. In March 2013, Ford called into a CFRB radio program to voice his displeasure with the court proceedings in the Richard Kachkar trial. 

Ford left City Hall around 3 p.m.

[bradmac91]

"I can't comment on anything before the courts"

"I can't comment on anything before the courts", Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said, when asked about the Sandro Lisi search warrant.

The warrant in question is to be released on Thursday morning. Apparently Ford could have ties to it. Lisi and Ford are friends. 

Generally, people in positions of political power don't comment on criminal cases, as their position could influence court proceedings, so Ford was doing the right thing here.

However, his record on this principle, is inconsistent:

Earlier this year, Richard Kachkar was on trial for murder. He went on a rampage with a snowplow in 2011, killing a police officer. While the case was before the courts, Rob Ford called into a radio show and expressed his opinions on the court proceedings.

From the Star, at the time:

“'I’m just really disappointed how the defence is presenting this,' Ford said during a phone call to Newstalk 1010 Sunday for the legal affairs program: Closing Arguments with Steven Skurka.

'One of our finest got killed, left behind a wife and a little son and we’re trying to find an excuse why this guy stole a tow truck, or whatever he did, or a snowplow, and killed a police officer,' Ford added.

'You can’t defend that. These people (police) put their lives every day in the line of fire. They jeopardize their lives and we’re trying to justify this?'

Ford disagreed with assurances from lawyers on the show that Kachkar would not simply go free if found not criminally responsible. 'If there’s mental illness involved, then he’s going to walk,” the mayor said.'"

Kachkar's mental illness had been taken into account through the trial, but Ford didn't feel it was a valid consideration. 

The Lisi document is to be released on Thursday morning. 

[Photo via Shaun Merritt, Wikimedia Commons]