Detective John Margetson

The accused was charged with motor vehicle offenses arising from a police chase and drug-related offenses following the execution of a search warrant.

The court acquitted the accused of the motor vehicle charges, finding the fleeting eyewitness identification of the driver unreliable.

However, the court convicted the accused of possession of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, as circumstantial evidence established he had placed the drugs in plain view in a bathroom immediately prior to his arrest.

The court also admitted a photocopy of a recognizance under the principled exception to the hearsay rule, convicting the accused of breaching his release conditions.

The accused was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking after police found 31.58 grams of crystal meth in his possession.

He pleaded guilty to simple possession but contested the trafficking charge.

The Crown relied heavily on expert evidence from a police detective regarding typical consumption and trafficking patterns to argue the quantity was too large for personal use.

The court excluded portions of the expert's evidence that touched on the ultimate issue or lacked a reliable foundation.

Ultimately, the court found that while the quantity was large, it was not impossible for it to be for personal use, and the absence of other trafficking indicia left a reasonable doubt.

The accused was acquitted of trafficking but convicted of simple possession.