Wedding bells ring freedom for drug suspects

Ten people facing drug trafficking charges at the Sault Ste. Marie Court House Monday were found not guilty after the Crown failed to call evidence.

The absence of a key witness set in motion a series of events that ultimately gave the accused their freedom, the Sault Star reports.

An undercover officer from Port Hope couldn’t testify because he was getting married.

When Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni refused a request for adjournment, the accused were arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

With no evidence presented, Buttazzoni declared them not guilty on all charges.

Seventeen people were originally charged in August 2009 after a six-month undercover investigation centred on drug activity in downtown area.

The trail date had been set in February.

Bureaucratic delays in issuing a subpoena appear to have contributed to the officer’s absence.

Charges against the following were dismissed:

Brendan Ahonen, 38

Kenneth Alton, 46

Steven Ball, 45

Douglas Boston, 45

Robert Cummings, 54

Jacqueline Cyr, 53

William Daigle, 41

Terrance Neville, 44

Stephen Smilie, 48

Jamey Wilson, 36