Political aides’ stories differ at Larry O’Brien trial

Testifying at Mayor Larry O’Brien’s influence-peddling trial, MP Pierre Poilievre’s assistant and former campaign manager, John Light, said he was told Terry Kilrea would drop out of the 2006 mayoral race because he was being offered a federal appointment. Light testified that Greg Strong, (campaign organizer for O’Brien) made the comment during a phone conversation in August 2006. But minutes later Strong denied the claim and said the subject of an appointment for Kilrea never came up during his conversation with Light. Judge Douglas Cunningham ordered a voir dire to see if the hearsay from both men (and local businessman Thom Bennett) can be admitted as evidence.

Ottawa Citizen