Trafficking trial begins for four arrested after major drug seizure

The trial of four local people nabbed 15 months ago in what was described as the "most significant drug seizure" in city police history began Monday at the courthouse.

One woman and three men pleaded not guilty to a myriad of charges stemming from an eight-month narcotic investigation, dubbed Project Oak, by officers of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

At the time of the arrests in August 2017, police said crystal meth, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl (powder) and marijuana, with an estimated street value of about $250,000, was seized in the bust.

Rebecca Gignac faces 17 charges, including six counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, nine firearm and ammunition offences, and a single count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.

Slawomir Bielawski is charged with the same 17 offences, as well as a count of possession of 3.5 grams of heroin and fentanyl which was found on his person when he was arrested on Aug. 24, 2017.

Brett Warnock is being tried on two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Nathan Albidone faces a single charge of possession of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

His lawyer Lindsay Marshall told the court her client is in a residential treatment program and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni is presiding at the trial, which is scheduled for three days this week.

A total of 26 days has been set aside for the proceedings, which will take place intermittently through the early months of 2019.

On Monday, the trial got underway with a voir dire (a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence) to deal with two applications filed by defence lawyers Jennifer Tremblay-Hall  and Joseph Wilkinson.

Tremblay-Hall represents Gignac and Wilkinson, a Toronto lawyer, is Bielawski's counsel. 

The first application deals with the disclosure of material federal prosecutors have provided to the defence.

The Crown has disclosed all of the material it is in a position to disclose and that is proper to give the defence, said David McKercher, of the public prosecution service of Canada.

The issue centres on confidential informants privilege and redacted material in the disclosed material.

Prosecutors asked for an ex-parte, in-camera hearing with the judge, arguing discussing the blacked-out portions of the volumes of material in open court with the defence and accused could put the informants in peril.

Buttazzoni decided to discuss the material with the Crown in camera, telling the defence he would provide them with a summary of what was discussed and a redacted transcript.

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