Trial begins for 2 men charged in fatal fentanyl-laced cocaine case in Saskatoon

Two men accused of selling cocaine laced with fentanyl which has been connected with the overdose deaths offour people duringa single weekend in March2018 are on trialin a Saskatoon provincial court.

Drug trafficking allegations against a third co-accused have been withdrawn.

ShervinBeeharry, Japmanjot Grewal and AzamKabaniwere originally charged with possession, trafficking and weapons charges in connection with what happened that fatal March weekend.

Two months ago, all three were also charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death andcriminal negligence causing bodily harm.

On Friday, the drug charges against Kabani were withdrawn. He still faces manslaughter charges.

The withdrawal of those charges cleared the way for the trial for Beeharry and Grewal, which began Tuesday. The trial involves the trafficking and weapons charges, but not the manslaughter charge, said Beeharry's defence lawyer.

"They're on trial for a number of weapons-related offences, essentially a number of drug-related offences which could be either trafficking, or what we call possession for the purpose of trafficking," saidBrian Pfefferle.

• Three men who allegedly sold cocaine cut with fentanyl now charged with manslaughter

The judge-alone trial began Tuesday with the defence applying to cross-examine police about a search warrant application. The application was toget permission from a judge to raid the home where three men allegedly kept the drugs.

"It gives us, as defence counsel, anopportunity to question that officer and the circumstances surrounding the presentation of that document to the judge, to determine whether that process was fair," Pfefferle said.

"The judgewould review the circumstances as outlined in evidence and determine whether or not it was a fair assessment of the evidence."

Judge Doug Agnew will rule on the defence application Tuesday.