THUNDER BAY - The court case involving Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs for charges of extortion and obstruction of justice continues to make its way through the courts, with a date for a judicial pre-trial now set.
Hobbs, along with his wife, Marisa Hobbs, are facing charges of extortion and obstruction of justice. On Tuesday, the matter was heard in a Thunder Bay Courtroom where a date for the judicial pre-trial was set for Jan. 19, 2018.
Thunder Bay lawyer, Gil Labine, spoke on behalf of Brian Greenspan of Toronto, who is representing Hobbs. Neither Hobbs nor his wife were present in court.
A judicial pre-trial is held in a judge’s chambers and involves counsel for the defense and the crown. A judicial pre-trial is meant to allow discussions on issues pertaining to an upcoming trial, including how long a trial may be, possible witnesses that will be called, and if there are any resolutions.
Hobbs and his wife, Marisa, were first charged in July last year. According to court documents, the two allegedly attempted to extort Thunder Bay lawyer, Alexander Zaitzeff, into purchasing a home for then partner, Mary Voss. Voss is also facing a charge of extortion.
