The Montréal ska scene took notice and Kingpins shows attracted increasingly larger crowds. Spy" (a cover) and "Leave My Girlfriend Alone" (by Nigel Goddard, alto sax). The single was released with two B-sides, "Spy vs. The band's first big break came with the release of their first single, "On the Run", written by Hodkinson and Muller which garnered them the 1995 Montreal Independent Music Industry award in the category of Best Single. The group formed in 1994 by founding members of the Kingpins: Eric 'Boum Boum' Boulanger on drums, Jordan Swift on bass, Ian 'Hot Tub' Hodkinson on organ, and Lorraine Muller on alto saxophone (later given the nickname "The Queen of Ska" by Bobby Beaton, she went on to play tenor and baritone saxes, and eventually became the lead singer.) They are known for their danceable ska rhythms, and their catchy song-writing abilities in both English and French. During their ten-year reign, the band toured extensively in Canada, the U.S., France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, and Japan. The last Kingpins tour took place in 2004, after which the members of the band reformed under the name Lo and the Magnetics founded by Muller in order to reflect the drastic line-up changes (and musical changes) that had taken place since the band's inception in 1994. The Kingpins featuring Lorraine Muller - The Queen of Ska was a ska band from Montreal, Quebec that created Stomp Records label with fellow Montreal Ska band The Planet Smashers. Lawyers Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia and Marion Camilleri are defence counsel.The Kingpins (Featuring Lorraine Muller "The Queen of Ska") Inspectors Mark Anthony Mercieca and Justine Grech are prosecuting. A relative application by his lawyers, still pending before the court, is expected to be decided upon soon, after more civilian witnesses have testified in his regard.įollowing a fresh application for bail on behalf of the woman and since civilian witnesses had testified, the court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, granted bail against a deposit of €10,000, a personal guarantee of €10,000, an order to sign the bail book on a daily basis and a curfew. Mr Azzopardi has not been granted bail since his arrest in March.
The woman was also separately charged with breaching bail. Since then, fresh charges concerning the attempted subornation of a witness have also been issued in respect of Mr Azzopardi, bringing the number of cases against the couple to four: the two original cases stemming from their arrest in March and two separate cases concerning the alleged bribery. Witness spits in court during case against suspected drug lord's girlfriend.Her lawyers are strongly denying the claims, insisting that in reality, it was the witness who had demanded money from the alleged drug lord to not testify. Prosecutors then filed bribery charges against her. That testimony had prompted the woman’s re-arrest at the end of the sitting. They've been threatening me even up until last week,” the man had said, while the woman shook her head. “I'm speaking out because I've had enough. The witness had claimed that during one of the calls, he had recognised the woman’s voice. She is also charged with cannabis possession.ĭuring a dramatic sitting in June, a witness testified that he had been bombarded by calls from a third party offering him €10,000 and a further €10,000 after the hearing in exchange for not testifying.
She is pleading not guilty to criminal conspiracy, fraudulently circulating fake cash and defrauding three stores in San Ġwann and Sliema. The 31-year-old mother of five, whose name was banned from publication to safeguard her children, had forfeited bail granted in earlier proceedings. The girlfriend of alleged drug lord Jordan Azzopardi has regained freedom after she had been re-arrested following claims that she had offered a witness €20,000 not to testify.