Brenda Martin

[redforever]

Just received a breaking news story - Brenda Martin has been found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison in Mexico.

[metal_geek]

She's gonna snap...
________
European Recipes

[rubecube]

Absolutely disgusting the way our own government tip-toed around and refused to help this poor woman. There was absolutely no pressure put on Mexican officials to provide a fair trial. If there's no travel advisory warning issued for Mexico because of this, then the Conservatives are a joke.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Absolutely disgusting the way our own government tip-toed around and refused to help this poor woman. There was absolutely no pressure put on Mexican officials to provide a fair trial. If there's no travel advisory warning issued for Mexico because of this, then the Conservatives are a joke.

Do you know that she is innocent? Or is this another example of a foriegner thinking they can escape possible punishment because they are from another country....

[FFR]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Absolutely disgusting the way our own government tip-toed around and refused to help this poor woman. There was absolutely no pressure put on Mexican officials to provide a fair trial. If there's no travel advisory warning issued for Mexico because of this, then the Conservatives are a joke.

I think I would prefer our government staying out of other countries politics and criminal affairs if it means other countries will stay out of ours. Brenda Martin cant expect the Canadian goverment to just run in and whip her to safety. There are laws in Mexico, and allegedly, she broke them. It's unfortunate, but thats the way things happen. To the governments credit, they had issued a transfer agreement with Mexico to remove Martin from prison in Mexico but she refused to sign it until a verdit was given. Well, now its given, so we'll see if she signs the transfer agreement or decides to stay in Mexico to wallow in self-pity.

This may seem harsh, and maybe it's too harsh, but it drives me up the wall that people expect the goverment to bail them out of anything they get caught in. Sure, the Mexican government is corrupt, but it's not like she went down there for a vacation and got randomly arrested at a resort.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Do you know that she is innocent? Or is this another example of a foriegner thinking they can escape possible punishment because they are from another country....

Her former convicted boss signed a statement declaring she hand no involment in it.

What's worse, she spent 2 years in prison without a trial.

[rubecube]

Anyone who doesn't believe this is a complete crock of excrement has probably never been to Mexico or dealt with Mexican authorities. They are the most corrupt, racist and ignorant individuals I've ever dealt with.

[Ozy_Flame]

In Mexico, you are guilty until proven innocent. The fact that she was found guilty spells to me that there might be some pretty damning evidence against her that we don't know about. Apparently she's changed her story a few times too, and the media has ate her case up like candy. I don't think this woman should be trusted.

Still, she should get a re-trial or a transfer in Canada. That's what the transfer agreement is set up for, and I'll be damned if she gets denied a transfer.

[Kjesse]

Her former boss swearing an affidavit in her support is of no help. He's been convicted of fraud, his sworn testimony is worthless.

It appears that the only evidence against her is that, after the fraud came to light, she asked for her $10,000 investment back, and he gave it to her. The other victims of the fraud got nothing from him until a US court became involved.

Still, there is no evidence that, at the time of her investment, she knew it was a scheme.

This sounds like a total travesty, and not the first for a Canadian in a foreign country like Mexico. I also think the media is not reporting the whole story. When the media reports on court cases, I find that most of the time if I investigate independently (like, by reading the actual transcript of the decision) the media has left something out that is very important, and which would change people's opinion if they knew the whole story.

Still, I'll be thinking twice before ever taking a trip to Mexico.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Still, I'll be thinking twice before ever taking a trip to Mexico.

Damn straight. Cuba is far more ethical.

[rubecube]

I've been to Mexico three times and even before this I knew I wasn't going back ever again. This just seals the deal.

[Dion]

The nature of Mexico's justice system, which does not include oral trials and puts the onus on the accused to prove his or her innocence rather than on the prosecution to prove guilt, meant Martin had to wait out the legal process in prison.

A former senior official with Foreign Affairs called it a "sad day."

"I think the key thing here is to work the system that exists to ensure she is transferred to Canada in as short a time as possible," said Gar Pardy.

He said if Martin is transferred to a Canadian prison, she would soon be eligible for parole because she has already served two years in a Mexican jail. Canadian prisoners are usually eligible for full parole after serving one-third of their sentence.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/sto...n-verdict.html

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya, a witness with glowing credentials.

Like the Mexican judical system

[Iggy's Forehead]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Damn straight. Cuba is far more ethical.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not, but if you are there's no need, your statement is true.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Iggy's Forehead

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not, but if you are there's no need, your statement is true.

I was being sarcastic. Cuba is one of the main subjects when it comes to Human Rights violations, and my point was that no matter where in the Caribbean you go, I think judicial processes are nowhere near the systems that exist in Western democracies. Now, granted, not every country has the same judiciary, but I can't think of a place in the Caribbean where I would stay to be tried. I would apply for a transfer so fast back to Canada it would make my own head spin.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by FFR

I think I would prefer our government staying out of other countries politics and criminal affairs if it means other countries will stay out of ours. Brenda Martin cant expect the Canadian goverment to just run in and whip her to safety. There are laws in Mexico, and allegedly, she broke them.

I honestly can't see how she broke them

Very disappointed

[peter12]

She'll be on a plane to Canada ASAP and be put out on parole.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I honestly can't see how she broke them

Very disappointed

You dont' think that being involved in fraud (allegedly) is breaking the law?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by FFR

You dont' think that being involved in fraud (allegedly) is breaking the law?

I don't see how she could be, if what the reports saying is true...

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/na...5-dbc97c41c86d

Her "crime" was that she worked as a chef for a convicted fraudster, Alyn Waage, who bilked investors worldwide out of about $60-million. He bribed his way out of Mexico and is currently serving a 10-year sentence in an American prison. While in Waage's employ, Ms. Martin argued with her former boss and was given a one-year severance package of $28,000.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I don't see how she could be, if what the reports saying is true...

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/na...5-dbc97c41c86d

Her "crime" was that she worked as a chef for a convicted fraudster, Alyn Waage, who bilked investors worldwide out of about $60-million. He bribed his way out of Mexico and is currently serving a 10-year sentence in an American prison. While in Waage's employ, Ms. Martin argued with her former boss and was given a one-year severance package of $28,000.

So according to her boss (who was convicted of fraud) and herself, she is innocent. Of course someone who doesn't want to be in prison is going to say she's innocent. And as other people on here have mentioned, a testimony from someone convicted of fraud isn't worth too much. Your article there doesn't mention the whole story. I also believe she invested money with her boss in some sort of scheme.