Moya’s lead attorney says she is innocent until proven guilty

We asked Peyrefitte if he feels the burden is on him to get her acquitted because so much, including her political career, is at stake.

Michael Peyrefitte
“It is not for Ms. Moya to prove her innocence, it’s for the Crown to show that she’s guilty because under the law she doesn’t have to prove her innocence. Under the law, she is innocent so the burden is on the Crown and I would want to assume that they have good evidence and good grounds for bringing this charge.”

Marion Ali
“And in a lot of people’s minds, she has already been convicted because of the “trial” in the court of public opinion.”

Michael Peyrefitte
“Well, that’s one of the serious ramifications of a person even being charged. Whether we like it or not, people will look at them in a certain way, especially an elected official so it is even with more that the Crown ought to operate when charging because you are charging a person that the people of the city elected. The Mayor will have to bear that embarrassment that comes with it and there is ramifications, there is an avenue for her to take if she believes that the prosecution was malicious. She can turn around and she can take action if indeed she can prove that the prosecution was malicious. But that’s way down the road. I have been retained to ensure that she gets a fair trial and if the evidence is not up to par, for her to be sent home and found not guilty and vindicated of these charges.”