I had it all and lost it ten years ago.
You sure find out quick who your real friends are!
Interesting the two who helped me out the most were sp's. All my fair weather friends fucked off.
Quebecois cocaine cowgirls
- Thread starter PopeDover
- Start date
I had it all and lost it ten years ago.
You sure find out quick who your real friends are!
Interesting the two who helped me out the most were sp's. All my fair weather friends fucked off.
I am unfortunately watching a law school friend go through this at this time. An immensely successful trial attorney, gorgeous wife, 4 kids, one in college, but seems to be overwhelmed by it all. He has gone into a depression, is not functional, is dumping off his files on other attorneys, and seems to be in a downward spiral. He is a brilliant guy, very good looking and funny and personable and juries love him, but he has a certain fragility and insecurity in his personality that makes me think he just bit off more than he can chew in life. He is a guy that was cut out for a much simpler life than what he leads, based on his personality which is more of an artist's personality than an attorney's. I remember the first time I saw him in law school, in our first year section of about 70 students, he was wearing a leather jacket and looked like he had just played with a rock band somewhere. He never talked much in class and he was the last person in the class I suspected would beat me out for the highest grade in 1st year Torts. We became very good friends and I have watched his career over the past 25 years which started with a large firm on Wall Street in New York. I feel really bad for him but there is nothing I can do. He is one of 2 very successful attorneys I have seen crash down to Earth hard in the last year, the other one is not a friend but rather a repeat adversary, and his demons were cocaine and strippers which caused a very public divorce from his wife.
I wonder what he can do. Assuming he knows some QC politicos he can ask them to beg for mercy from the Australian justice minister, but his hands may be tied because this is the biggest drug bust in Australian history and the Justice Minister has his own political interest in making examples of these mules.
Furthermore do you remember what happened to Johnny Depp when he and his then wife Amber Heard illegally brought their dogs into Australia? He got no favors and ended up having to make this video as part of the punishment. Does he look happy in this video, Booker?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORpBAIB9j64
Agree 100%, this was fairly obvious from day 1. Unless there are evidentiary issues or defenses we do not yet know about, these defendants are likely going down in flames with long prison sentences. I am really curious about the deal Lagace took and whether she will turn State's witness against the other two, in which case we could have a great trial with finger pointing maybe in 3 different directions, lots of cross examination and drama and entertainment. The Tamine and Roberge defense attorneys have something to argue I am sure, they were not hired to be potted plants, but one can assume the prosecutors have already been told to give this case a very high priority, to prepare for trial, to have all their experts and witnesses lined up etc. They will come after these defendants very hard and nobody will be getting any favors here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORpBAIB9j64
With Johnny Deep and Amber Heard having to publicaly apologize for ''smuggling'' their 2 small dogs, even threats of euthanising the dogs, I would be very surprised the 3 accused would have clemency for a major drug bust like this.
With Johnny Deep and Amber Heard having to publicaly apologize for ''smuggling'' their 2 small dogs, even threats of euthanising the dogs, I would be very surprised the 3 accused would have clemency for a major drug bust like this.
Looks like Melina Roberge WILL stand trial says the Judge .... . The ignorance excuse did not work well for her. February 3rd is next court date, meantime behind bars girl ... mistake cost in life and the price to pay is high when you risk high. This will set another precedence to better teach our kids better.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/c...ting-30-5m-worth-of-cocaine-on-to-cruise-ship.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/c...ting-30-5m-worth-of-cocaine-on-to-cruise-ship.
There are several problems with the ignorance defense not the least of which is that her codefendant and friend Lagace pled guilty and is now a convicted drug mule and Roberge laid out on her Facebook photographic evidence that suggests these girls did everything together and it seems improbable that Lagace could have hid the drugs from her. Another problem is that Lagace likely negotiated a deal to cooperate on the prosecution of Roberge in exchange for a lighter sentence. In other words Roberge may feel a cold flash of steel stabbing her in the back.
She is simply rolling the dice on winning at trial. If she loses she will be in jail much longer than Lagace will be. With any civil or criminal trial dice gets rolled and sometimes you lose and go down in flames. She still could take a deal prior to trial but it appears she just doesn't want to deal with jail. Someone should tell her she will have to explain how she was on a $23,000 cruise with her income and where the $ came from. Her answer should be interesting.
She is simply rolling the dice on winning at trial. If she loses she will be in jail much longer than Lagace will be. With any civil or criminal trial dice gets rolled and sometimes you lose and go down in flames. She still could take a deal prior to trial but it appears she just doesn't want to deal with jail. Someone should tell her she will have to explain how she was on a $23,000 cruise with her income and where the $ came from. Her answer should be interesting.
That is right EB. If you know the evidence is solid and point towards losing in court, better off come with a plea bargain. If you don't, then the book might get thrown at you when judged guilty after a long trial. So, yes rolling the dice when evidence is quite solid is not a good idea. Probably Legace cooperated with the police in exchange of information for a lesser sentence, ie where the drug was loaded, where it was destined to, who is the head etc, etc ... .
Interesting story indeed to follow.
Interesting story indeed to follow.
For me the question is which of the 2 girls now has the best chance to get jail time deported to Canada? I am sure this is something that was discussed already by the lawyers and Australian authorities.
If Australia is kind enough to allow that to one of the girl (the one who plaid guilty?) it would be a big win as Canada's is much more relax and would reduce the sentence or move the sentence to community work much sooner. It's maybe the only way for the girl to have some kind of a life before they are 40-50 year old!
Just a tought...
Cheers,
If Australia is kind enough to allow that to one of the girl (the one who plaid guilty?) it would be a big win as Canada's is much more relax and would reduce the sentence or move the sentence to community work much sooner. It's maybe the only way for the girl to have some kind of a life before they are 40-50 year old!
Just a tought...
Cheers,
In full agreement here. Roberge still have the time to cut a plea deal before trial like Legace did. She just took the chance to plead ignorance and did not win. So her next move will be cut a deal with the Crown and get minimal time and possibility of extradition to homeland. February 3rd will be interesting.
Not sure why Australia would allow another country to punish its citizens who violate Australian law, under the other country's laws. That would make a mockery of Australian sovereignty and ability to enforce its own laws. The crime happened in Australia, not Canada. In this scenario you are basically asking Australia to tell the citizens of all countries who might send drug mules, "our laws actually mean shit........" The authorities have said the opposite and their interest is the opposite. Australia is already a target for drug mules because the street value of cocaine is sky high.......because it is hard to get it in.
The scenario you outline is unlikely because it sends a message of leniency to drug mules and they are clearly trying to do the opposite.
Completely agree with you EB. But Australia and Canada are both Commonwealth countries. We are big friends. I would not be surprise to such a deal. Once the girl will have tell all they know, the Australian authorities will be left with very little. Why not having Canada pay for their time in Jail. It serves nothing to the Australia. Like I said, it's just a tough that I think is being discussed a lot right now by the lawyers of these girls.
Cheers,
Actually, you and Jalimon are both right. Your concerns are also valid, EB, in that negotiations would take place to ensure that an offender of Australian laws would not get off with a slap on the wrist.
See the section entitled "Transfer of offenders treaties" in the following:
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/guide-for-canadians-imprisoned-abroad
I have nominated this thread for 2016 MERB Lounge thread of the year. Good job PopeDover for starting the thread and to all those many MERBites who contributed to the thread, and to Isabelle Lagace, Melanie Roberge and Andre Tamine for becoming a compelling international news story.
I have read that in an article, some kind of treaty between the 2 countries that you can be deported and do your time in your own country. Think about it, jail is jail, no matter where. At least they could be close to there family who could visit. Now i dunno tough if setence could be change or reduced etc
For the Quebec girls, being here would mean their families or friends could visit. For the Australian authorities it means someone else pays the bills.
So kind of a win/win.
Australia could still attach many conditions to their sentence and make it very long and unpleasant. Just being in Canada might not mean it will be party time.
So kind of a win/win.
Australia could still attach many conditions to their sentence and make it very long and unpleasant. Just being in Canada might not mean it will be party time.
Similar threads
