The appellant was charged with trafficking in a narcotic.
During his trial, defence counsel sought to cross-examine a police officer in a manner that would reveal the identity of a police informer.
The Crown objected and stayed the proceedings under s. 508 of the Criminal Code to protect the informer's identity, subsequently recommencing the proceedings.
The appellant argued this constituted an abuse of process and that the second trial judge's refusal to allow the cross-examination, issue a material witness warrant, or reopen the case to hear a witness on entrapment denied him the right to make full answer and defence.
The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, holding that the Crown acted properly to protect the informer's identity and that the trial judge made no errors in her discretionary rulings.
