The accused was charged with importing cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
At trial, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity, as the trial judge held that his hypomania caused a delusion protecting him from punishment, rendering him incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of his acts.
The Court of Appeal upheld the acquittal.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a new trial, holding that a failure to appreciate penal consequences does not satisfy the first arm of the insanity defence.
Furthermore, the trial judge erred in accepting as factual the hearsay evidence related by the defence psychiatrist without independent proof.
