Live: Hells Angles civil forfeiture trial begins in B.C. Supreme Court

Olthuis says the HA use the clubhouses to recruit members, as safe houses, as places they can collect data on police/rivals and "the cubhouses function as planted flags" to define biker turf.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

Olthuis says the Hells Angels' function is “facilitation or commission of serious offences." Including violence, he says.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

Govt lawyer Brent Olthuis says the Hells Angels case is about "things" – 3 clubhouses on "the basis they are likely to be used to engage in unlawful activity."

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

HA spokesman Rick Ciarniello is now here in the courtroom and plans to be here throughout the trial, lawyer Arvay says.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

Justice Davies thanks Arvay for warm welcome to a case that has gone on 12 years "and may never end." Now he is talking about publication bans that might be in effect (that is RARE in a civil case.)

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

First govt witness will be undercover officer, HA lawyer Joe Array says. He tells Davies that the cop's evidence may NOT be relevant to this case at all. Admissibility likely to be challenged, Arvay says.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Barry Davies is presiding over HA civil forfeiture case (and has been for 10 years!) He was appointed to the court on January 10, 1996. No bikers in court for this so far, but executive director of civil forfeiture is here.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

Civil forfeiture case started in Nov. 2007 when RCMP raided bikers' Nanaimo clubhouse. In 2012, case expanded to include East End and Kelowna clubhouses. Govt wants the 3 forfeited.

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018

Historic civil forfeiture case against B.C. Hells Angels begins today. Govt says HA is a criminal organization. HA says civil forfeiture laws are unconstitutional. Here's a feature on the issues I did last summer: https://t.co/gvty0ORXMi

— Kim Bolan (@kbolan) April 23, 2018