(This
column was published in the North
Shore News on
June 24, 1998)
Guessing
game is over
By Leo Knight
DURING
the trial of the most over-exposed, walking, talking, "dumb
blonde joke" we had the misfortune to witness, I have
studiously avoided any comment.
Despite
my revulsion at some of the things being said by Gillian Guess,
and the over-blown media attention given everything from her
sunglasses to her matronly hips, I concluded any comment about
how I really felt might provide some excuse for a mistrial.
With
churning guts, I held my tongue. No longer.
During
the trial, there has been much speculation, and not a little
criticism, directed at the Vancouver police. If everyone from
sheriffs to clerks could see the flirting between juror and
accused, why didn't the police do something about it?
The
VPD detective responsible for the conduct of the investigation
into the Dosanjh murders, Rick Crook, had to silently endure all
manner of abuse hurled his way during the original trial. He was
accused of lying, being a racist and was tabbed the "Prince
of Darkness" by defence counsel Russ Chamberlain.
He
saw what was going on between Guess and Gill, but knew there was
little that could be done without risking the trial in its
entirety.
As
I said, Crook has been in a position where he's had to remain
silent despite the totally undeserved public criticism he was
suffering.
As
the Guess trial drew to a close, he no longer felt the
requirement to be silent. In a private chat last week with my
old colleague, I began to understand the frustrations, he and
the other police investigators were feeling.
Crook
took his concerns about a possible Gill/Guess relationship to
his superiors in VPD when the trial was about half over. He
wanted to institute an investigation similar in scope to what
was ultimately done by the RCMP which resulted in the charge
Guess was convicted of last week.
In
a round table meeting the matter was discussed by senior police
officers with Crook present. As much as they wanted to get the
goods on both Guess and Gill, they determined the possibility of
a mistake in the surveillance might result in the operation
being "burned." This might open up the police to
charges of tampering with a juror. Especially given the wild
accusations constantly streaming from Russ Chamberlain's mouth.
The
police made a difficult decision. Considering the nature of the
police is, by its very essence, one of action. They decided to
do nothing and "let the cards fall where they may."
Two
months later, the police again took another shot at having Guess
removed from the jury. This time they met with then Regional
Crown counsel Bob Wright. In another round table discussion, it
was determined any application to remove Guess for cause would
certainly meet with a rebuttal from the defence and would have
to take place with Guess present. If the motion was dismissed,
they felt Guess would be poisoned even further against the
Crown.
Checkmate.
Again,
they decided to do nothing, hoping common sense would prevail in
the jury room when deliberations started two weeks later.
Ah,
but that was not to be. At the outset of the deliberations, when
the first vote was four to convict, one (Guess) to acquit, and
the balance yet undecided, the Guess personality took over. She
made sure her will was imposed on the other 11 jurors.
One
juror later confided that she wore him down. After almost seven
months, he just couldn't take any more. Despite what he knew to
be right, he voted to acquit. In this space, at the time, I said
the jury abdicated their responsibility to the public. I still
believe that. Gillian Guess most of all.
Shortly thereafter the shooting war started again with a renewed vigor.
It
was at this point that the authorities were able to finally take
a run at Guess. Wright requested the RCMP Serious Crime section
have a look at a possible obstruction of justice situation.
About the same time a Crimestoppers tip was received underlining
the police suspicions. On the same day, an off-duty CLEU member
saw Guess and Gill together making nice-nice at Pelican Bay
nightclub.
It
was time to go after the bent juror.
Two
and a half years later, the fruits of that investigation
resulted in the circus which became the Gillian Guess trial.
And
what a circus!
The
mainstream media adopted the case as their own cause celebre.
But not for the right reasons. After all, this was the first
time in our history, a juror had been accused of obstruction.
This was uncharted territory in the centuries of western
jurisprudence. But that wasn't the focus of the media. No, it
was the fashion sense, or lack thereof, of Gillian Guess. Sex
and titillation sells after all.
We
were treated to a two page spread in the Province with a
fashion consultant critiquing Guess taste, such as it is.
We
took a trip into her house and got a depiction of her living
arrangements. I don't know how I would have made it through the
trial without that vital information.
We
got to know the name of her dog, a little furry, dishmoppy thing
called George.
There
was talk of book deals. Made for TV movies. Good Lord, what a
sick society if she is allowed to profit from her overactive
libido.
As
a final thought, Andy Warhol philosophized about a person's 15
minutes of fame. Is there anyone reading this who believes
Gillian Guess hasn't exceeded her allotted time by at least two
or threefold? Has justice been done? Not yet.
For
justice to be truly done in this sordid matter, Guess will go to
jail and not profit one thin dime for the multi-million-dollar
waste of taxpayers money she is responsible for. Gill, Bindy
Johal and his cohorts will also pay the price if they are
retried and found guilty for the blood spilled in the gang war.
And we will never be burdened with hearing the name of Gillian Guess again.