During a trial for possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, the Crown sought to qualify a police officer as an expert witness on the consumption and distribution of fentanyl.
The defence challenged the officer's admissibility, arguing a lack of necessity, qualifications, and independence due to his involvement in the execution of a search warrant in the case.
Applying the Mohan and White Burgess frameworks, the court found the officer was qualified and capable of fulfilling his duty to the court, given his minor role in the investigation.
The officer was accepted as an expert, but prohibited from opining on the ultimate issue of whether the accused possessed the drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
