Pubdate: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2004, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Dawn Walton DRUG TRIAL ABANDONED AFTER DELAY GETTING TO COURT Two complex drug-related trials in Alberta have been abandoned because they did not get to court fast enough, federal prosecutors announced yesterday. Prosecutors and police were slow to disclose evidence in the cases, which date back to 1999 when 36 people were charged with drug trafficking and organized-crime-related offences, preventing the trials from happening within a "reasonable time," officials said. Last fall an Edmonton judge threw out charges against 11 people, saying the long delay violated their Charter rights. The cases have cost taxpayers at least $22-million, including construction of a high-security courtroom in Edmontonto handle the trials. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin