Defence calls key crown witnesses slippery, shady and narcissistic

Onday 40 of the $24 million Atlas Copcofraud trial and daytwo of closing arguments, the jury got a recap of the last two months from defence lawyer Ralph Steinberg.

He is representing the former manager of the company's Sudbury office Dirk Plate,who, along with Montreal insurance broker Paul Caron, is facing fraud charges.

They are alleged to have been part of a scheme to over-billAtlas Copcofor employee benefits, a scheme that former Atlas Copco employees Leo Caron and DavidHillier have already confessed to being part of.

In court Tuesday,Steinbergcalled former Sudbury office financial managerHillier the"slipperiest witness imaginable," who wouldn't give a straight answer. Steinbergalleges Hillier made up a story that includedPaul Caron and Plate in the fraud schemeto escape the civil lawsuit brought by his former employer.

"He was looking for a way out of that $20 million lawsuit and I would suggest he got it," Steinbergtold the jury,

"He made up a story ... and when it's closely examined, it just doesn't make sense."

Steinberg called the story spun by Hillier who returned the $400,000 he says he stole to avoid charges "preposterous," and accused him of trying to confuse the jury and investigators with"accounting bafflegab."

Steinberg also attacked the former human resources manager Leo Caron, who was sentenced to five years in prison for the fraud and testified for the Crown.

Hesays Leo Caron claimed to be a"walking zombie" due to mental illness during the early 2000s, when the fraud was at full steam, but says he seemed skilled at hiding his illegal activities.

The court has heard that Leo Caronfunneled some of the money to 68 other Atlas Copco employees in the form of cash advances or expanded benefits.

"He really did act like Santa Claus. But he was generous with the company's money," Steinberg said of Leo Caron, adding that he"deserves an award for narcissism."

As for his client, Steinberg says the 72-year-old Plate has been nothing but "open and transparent" with authorities and "done everything he can to deny" he was involved in this crime.

The jury is expected to hear from the Crown this afternoon, after which it will go into sequester to begin discussing a verdict.