10. Regina v. D.L. [Provincial Court of Alberta, Calgary – April, 2011]

Client was the operator of a motor vehicle which was the subject of ongoing surveillance by the police. The police observed what they believed to be activity consistent with drug trafficking so they stopped the vehicle and searched the driver, passenger and interior of the vehicle. As a consequence of that search the police seized a quantity of cocaine and cash which (according to the police) confirmed their belief with respect to drug trafficking. Consequently, our client was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. The Crown made an unsolicited offer of 2 years imprisonment in exchange for a quick guilty plea which was promptly rejected. As matters turned out we were successful in killing this most serious prosecution in its entirety against D.L. by way of the entry of a Stay of Proceedings is a legal term used to refer to a direction by a Crown prosecutor or a Judge to the Clerk of the Court to terminate a criminal prosecution. Click for more information..