Chemicals found in illicit drugs in B.C.
SURREY — Health Canada tests have confirmed the presence of dangerous substances laced into other illicit drugs in two B.C. communities.
The RCMP say pebble heroin seized in Surrey last December has come back positive for the chemical W-18, a drug developed as a potential painkiller.
The Mounties say cocaine seized by the West Shore detachment on Vancouver Island last May has also tested positive for the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Health Canada has warned RCMP that this particular strain of fentanyl had not been seen in the area before.
Trial conducted in wrong language
FREDERICTON — A New Brunswick court has set aside a woman’s drug trafficking conviction after her trial was mistakenly conducted in French for no apparent reason.
“I hate to say it, but it sounds like a Monty Python movie,” said John McEvoy, a law professor at the University of New Brunswick.
The provincial Court of Appeal ordered a new trial for Neisha Petitpas, who was convicted of possession of oxycodone and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in October 2014.
The appeal ruling said that at her first court appearance, Petitpas clearly indicated through her counsel that she wanted to proceed in English.
It said initial proceedings were held in English, but at some point proceedings in Court of Queen’s Bench switched to French.
“For reasons that are not obvious from the record, the proceedings were conducted entirely in French,” Thursday’s decision said.
Suspect put fluid on girl’s clothing
WINNIPEG — Police in Winnipeg are looking for a man who sprayed or deposited what they say may have been a bodily fluid on a teenage girl’s clothing.
The girl and some friends were shopping at the St. Vital mall on Sunday when they noticed a man following them.
Police say the girls went into a store to try to evade him, and that’s when one of the teens noticed an unidentified substance on her back.
The suspect remained in the area for a brief time before fleeing.
Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen says DNA tests on the substance are being done and could help identify the suspect.
Members of the sex-crimes unit are reviewing surveillance footage.