Law Times

PAGE 16 February 13, 2012 • Law Times u BIZARRE BRIEFS By Viola James SUSPECT CLAIMED WITCH JAILED HIM WITH ZOMBIES CAPE TOWN — Who's scarier to have as a cell- mate? A zombie or a gangster? Someone might actually ask that question after a man claimed to be sharing a cave prison with zom- bies. He's the same man South African police have arrested as a suspected fraudster for impersonating the award-winning and deceased traditional singer Khulekani Kwakhe "Mgqumeni" Khumalo, accord- ing to Reuters. The unnamed man, who appeared in court in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province on Tuesday, had said he hadn't died but was kidnapped by a witch doctor who cast a spell on him and impris- oned him in a cave with zombies, local media reported. Thousands of people in Khumalo's rural eastern home village of Esiggumeni turned out to see the man on the weekend. Riot police with truncheons and water cannons were deployed to keep the crowd under control. "I have always been alive," he was quoted as tell- ing the crowd by the Independent Online news site. "I have lost a lot of weight but it is me." Police said the suspect's fingerprints don't match those of the famed singer. The man also doesn't have the same scars on his face as Khumalo had. "Detectives conducting the enquiry were con- vinced that the matter required criminal investiga- tion," police said in a statement. SMUGGLERS USE KIDDIE RIDES TO MOVE DRUGS YUMA, Ariz. — This story should offend kids who jealously guard their right to have fun on amuse- ment park rides. According to Reuters, U.S. border cops in far- west Arizona have seized an off-road go-kart and trailer packed with marijuana in the latest bizarre attempt by Mexican smugglers to beat beefed-up border security. The border patrol said agents and officers from the Cocopah Tribal Police Department spotted the single-seat go-kart hauling a trailer through the des- ert near Yuma, Ariz., and gave chase. The driver abandoned the homemade vehicle, which was towing a trailer packed with about 100 kilograms of marijuana, about 100 metres from the border and fled back to Mexico, Reuters reported. "It's not something that we see very often," agent Spencer Tippets said of the attempt. "Smuggling organizations are always trying to adjust and change their tactics," he added. POLICE TURN TO FACEBOOK TO STOP CRIME HANOVER, Germany — Criminals should watch who they befriend on Facebook. According to Reuters, the interior minister says police in the German state of Lower Saxony will soon use their networks of Facebook friends to find missing persons and hunt for suspected criminals. The decision to use social media in searches follows the completion of a pilot scheme in the northern city of Hanover last year that drew sharp criticism from data-protection groups. The scheme helped police clear up six criminal investigations and two missing-persons cases after circulating information from closed-circuit televi- sion footage on Facebook, Reuters reported. Police resolved two cases just hours after the information was uploaded to the site. "Our successes so far clearly show that the police must not shut themselves off from this medium," state Interior Minister Uwe Schuenemann said in a statement. "The police department in Lower Saxony can adapt to new trends," he said. "With a fan page, the police is showing itself to be modern and approach- able." Data-protection groups heavily criticized the publication of suspects' pictures on Facebook dur- ing the pilot last year, arguing that personal data directed through Facebook could end up on an American Internet server outside the influence of European Union laws. The new system will direct Facebook users to a police server via an Internet link, said Schuenemann. But the state commissioner for data protection, Joachim Wahlbrink, said this wasn't enough and the decision would lead to the circulation of the personal information on the Internet. "Once this data has been saved, those involved will always be pilloried," his spokesman, Michael Knaps, said. LT u The INSIDE STORY BINNIE HONOURED BY TLA The Toronto Lawyers Association is awarding retired Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie its 2012 Award of Distinction. Binnie will receive the award during a reception on March 1 at One King West in Toronto. The association is honouring him for his contribution to the law and the legal profession. Binnie joined the Supreme Court bench Ian Binnie in 1998 and retired in October 2011. Past recipients of the award include Supe- rior Court Justice Colin Campbell and former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry. For information about the reception and the award, visit tlaonline.ca. BLAKES ANNOUNCES 6 NEW TORONTO PARTNERS Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP promoted six lawyers to partner at its Toronto office this month. Tim Andison, who joined Blakes in November 2010, practises in the areas of mergers and acquisi- tions, capital markets, and other fi- nancing transactions. Andrew Pollock, a member of Blakes' business group and its China practice, will also join Andison in the firm's Toronto office as a partner. His practice involves mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance and governance with specialties in mining operations and railway transportation law. Cynthia Sargeant, who prac- tises corporate and securities law, advises clients on financing, corpo- rate governance compliance obliga- tions, and commercial transactions. Kurt Sarno, who previously practised at a large law firm in New York before joining Blakes, focuses on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Antonio Turco handles litiga- tion related to intellectual property rights, including disputes over pat- ents, copyright, trademarks, indus- trial design, and trade secrets. In addition, Laura Weinrib handles matters related to the phar- maceutical, medical devices, natural health products, food, and consum- er products industries. "I am pleased to announce our latest group of partners," said Rob Granatstein, managing partner at Blakes. "Each of these individuals has worked very hard for this next achievement in their legal careers. It is this dedication to our clients on the part of all of our professionals that makes Blakes the success that it is." B.C. LAWYERS START 2ND ROUND OF BOYCOTTS The Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia started its second wave of service withdrawals this month in an effort to convince FEEDS LEGAL LegalFeeds_Cl_Jan_11.indd 1 A daily blog of visit www.lawtimesnews.com the provincial government to invest $100 million in additional legal aid funding. The second wave, which will end on Feb. 14, leaves 53 provincial courthouses without duty counsel. That represents nearly two-thirds of all courthouses in the province. The association hopes the ser- vice withdrawals will force the government to help more indi- viduals qualify for legal aid and increase the number of services offered by the province. A tax on legal fees currently gen- erates $140 million annually but less than half of that goes to the prov- ince's $68-million legal aid budget. "The first phase of service with- drawals went very well in terms of support," said Marc Kazimirski, president of the association. "The lawyers involved are head- ed into Phase 2 with greater aware- ness already achieved for this im- portant issue, and a strong sense of purpose remains." The association plans to with- draw services again during the first three weeks of March as well as dur- ing the entire month of April. COBBETTS TEAM JOINS GOWLINGS An equity capital markets team is leaving Cobbetts LLP to join Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP's London, England, office. Included in the team are Cob- betts' partners Andrew Wright, Charles Bond, Seſton Collett, and Dominic Prentis, as well as directors Susan Johnston and Da- vid Brennan. They'll make the switch to Gowl- ings at the end of this month and will join the firm's energy, infrastruc- ture, and mining industry group. "We are sorry that Andrew and our colleagues are leaving and wish them the best of luck with their new global venture," said Daniel O'Gorman, head of Cobbetts' eq- uity capital markets group. LT uFor more Inside Story, please visit www. lawtimesnews.com. Canadian Legal News 1/6/11 11:44:49 AM canadianlaw yermag.com/ legalfeeds

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