Witness struggles to keep story straight as Jesse Bleck trial continues
CBC
The trial of the man charged with failing to remain at the scene of a collision that left teenaged cyclist Tristan Roby with life-altering injuries resumed Tuesday, with the Crown struggling to get clear and audible answers from a key witness.
Continuing his testimony Tuesday was Ahmad Jamal, a friend of the accused Jesse Bleck.
Jamal was questioned about whether or not he was driving the Nissan Ultima that struck Roby on the night of July 21, 2019.
Bleck, 26, is charged with failing to remain at the scene of a collision causing bodily harm and driving while prohibited. Roby, then 17, was struck while riding his bike with a friend on Exeter Road. The collision has left him with extensive brain injuries. He now uses a wheelchair and requires constant care.
Crown prosecutor Artem Orlov tried to clarify with Jamal his conflicting statements made to police and during his testimony at this trial.
The court has heard that Jamal called police in September of 2019 to say that he was driving the car that night. However in other statements to police, Jamal has said that isn't true.
Orlov suggested Jamal had told police he was driving to spare Bleck a jail sentence because Bleck has children and Jamal doesn't.
"You made the choice to take the blame for someone else and you regretted it?" asked Orlov.
Jamal answered: "No."
Throughout the day, Jamal was a challenging witness. Most of the time, he spoke in whispering murmur and frequently had to be asked to speak up, reminded to face the microphone, or both. Often his answers came out as a single word, and only after the judge or the lawyers questioning Jamal asked him to clarify his answer.
Orlov pointed to a statement Jamal gave to a police officer in response to the question: "Do you know who the driver is?"
Jamal said "yes."
The follow up question from the officer was "Who is the driver?"
Jamal's answer in that transcript was "I don't like to say names. I don't want to put nobody on the spot."
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