The trial for Peter Goldring, an MP who was charged with refusing to give a breath sample after being pulled over by police more than a year ago, began Thursday in an Edmonton courtroom.
Court proceedings began Thursday morning with testimony from Goldring’s arresting officer.
Constable Trevor Shelrud described Goldring as belligerent with the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Shelrud said Goldring identified himself as a Member of Parliament, and argued with the officer – saying he was in a hurry.
The officer said Goldring then locked himself in his vehicle.
“He was being argumentative,” Shelrud said in his testimony, going on to say: “Under normal circumstances, I might be inclined to smash the window and arrest him.”
During cross-examination, Goldring’s lawyer Dino Bottos argued there were a number of discrepancies between the officer’s report and his testimony.
Bottos asked the officer:
“Did you say anything about the tone of his voice in your report thirteen months ago?”
The lawyer then went on to ask the officer:
“Did you ever write snarky or argumentative?”
On the stand, Shelrud said “No.”
Bottos also pointed out a number of discrepancies in specific times listed in the reports – and in Shelrud’s hand-written notes.
The MP was pulled over after leaving a Christmas party on the north side of the city on Dec. 4, 2011.
Goldring has pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to provide a breath sample in April, 2012 – after claiming he would enter that plea in January.
Before the story broke, Goldring was a Conservative MP – but removed himself from the Tory caucus until the case is resolved.
The trial is expected to take a total of two days.
With files from Bill Fortier
