Biathlete's father tells jury he sent letter accusing Mazhari of stealing paintings

Jonathan Montpetit,
Canadian Press

Myriam Bedard's boyfriend spearheaded a whisper campaign that turned part of her family against the former Olympic champion's father, a Quebec Superior Court jury heard yesterday.

Huguette Nicole, who used to live with Bedard's father, Pierre, said she harboured suspicions about Nima Mazhari, who is alleged to have stolen 20 paintings by the late Ghitta Caiserman-Roth between 2001 and 2003.

Mazhari, Bedard's companion, stands accused of theft and possession of stolen goods worth a total of $100,000.

"I had much doubt about him," Nicole testified.

Under questioning by Mazhari's lawyer, which grew testy at times, Nicole claimed she was concerned about the growing, divisive influence Mazhari had on the Bedard family.

Mazhari and Bedard nevertheless enlisted the help of Nicole and Pierre Bedard to open a cafe in the Quebec City area in 2002.

She said it was while preparing for the opening of the cafe that she realized Mazhari was a negative influence.

Asked to elaborate, Nicole answered: "The way the girls, under the influence of Mr. Mazhari, were talking about her father."

Nicole added that she felt her fears were confirmed by Myriam Bedard's testimony before a House of Commons committee investigating the sponsorship scandal.

Bedard levelled accusations that former Via Rail head Jean Pelletier fired her for whistle-blowing. "That was his (Mazhari's) language," she said.

The 10-woman and two-man jury has heard testimony that Bedard used the home her father shared with Nicole to store several paintings in 2002.

Nicole said her suspicions about Mazhari also turned to the paintings, some of which appeared to bear Caiserman-Roth's signature.

It was Bedard's father who eventually tried to warn Caiserman-Roth's daughter about the paintings.

Taking the stand yesterday afternoon, Pierre Bedard admitted he sent photos and an anonymous letter that accused Mazhari of stealing the paintings to Caiserman-Roth's daughter, Kathe Roth, in January 2004.

Myriam Bedard diligently took notes throughout her father's testimony.

Pierre Bedard is to continue testifying today.

page mise en ligne par SVP

vélo ski de fond plongeon
Consultez notre ENCYCLOPÉDIE sportive