Kate Matthews

The applicant, charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, brought a Stinchcombe application seeking disclosure of police documents related to two search warrants.

The defence alleged fraud in obtaining the second warrant, specifically fabricating a confidential informant (CI #6).

The court dismissed the application for disclosure of the "SMEAC" report (finding it irrelevant to guilt/innocence and protected by public interest privilege), confidential informant handling notes for CI #1 (due to informer privilege and lack of reliance by the affiant), and handling notes for CI #6 (finding no sufficient evidentiary foundation to establish relevance for a Garofoli application, despite alleged irregularities in the search).