Pubdate: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Louise Dickson, Times Colonist VICTIM 'LIKELY CHRONIC' DRUG USER Regular Use of Cocaine Often Leads to Paranoia, Expert Testifies A Colwood man allegedly murdered by a former Highlands councillor and his sons had a moderate-to-high amount of cocaine in his blood at the time of his death, a forensic toxicologist said yesterday in B.C. Supreme Court. Heather Dinn, who works at the RCMP forensic lab in Vancouver, was testifying at the second-degree murder trial of Ken Brotherston Sr. and his two sons, Ken Jr., 33, and Gregory, 28. All three Brotherstons are charged in connection with the death of 33-year-old Keith William Taylor on May 30, 2008. Dinn told the court she reviewed a report prepared by her colleague, Lori Campbell, a toxicologist with the RCMP forensic lab in Halifax, indicating Taylor had either taken a very large dose of cocaine or several doses of the potent stimulant. However, Dinn was unable to say what effect that amount of cocaine would have had on Taylor. "He could be in the active phase experiencing euphoria or the withdrawal phase, experiencing fatigue, depression and lethargy," she told prosecutor Patrick Weir. Lab results also showed a high concentration of benzoylecgonine -- the primary metabolite of cocaine -- in Taylor's blood, consistent with binge use or spree use of cocaine, Dinn testified. "This individual is likely a chronic user of cocaine and is now ingesting the drug in a binge fashion and has been ingesting the drug repeatedly prior to his death," she said. Methamphetamine and amphetamine, which are stimulants, were also found in a sample of Taylor's blood, said Dinn. "It's not a particularly high level of methamphetamine. It's consistent with a single dose, but it would add to the effect of the cocaine as well." Taylor could have taken a higher dose of methamphetamine up to 16 hours before his death or he could have taken a lower dose closer to the time of his death, said Dinn. Because cocaine is sometimes cut with methamphetamine, Taylor may not have knowingly taken the drug. Amitriptyline, a prescription anti-depressant, was also detected in Taylor's blood. A urine sample -- recording two or three days' drug use -- detected methylecgonine, a compound formed when someone smokes crack cocaine. During Dinn's testimony, lawyer Steven Kelliher, who is representing Brotherston Sr., objected that the Crown did not enter Campbell's toxicology report as an exhibit. "In a case of second-degree murder, it's an astonishing proposition that a toxicology report regarding the presence of intoxicants in the body of the deceased is not being tendered by the Crown," said Kelliher, who told the court he will subpoena Campbell and bring her from Halifax to Victoria to testify at the trial. During afternoon testimony, the Crown allowed Kelliher to call forensic psychiatrist Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe to testify as an expert about the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine and amitriptyline on mental function. Witnesses who are crack-cocaine addicts will be called to give evidence during the trial. Lohrasbe told the court the fundamental feature of cocaine psychosis is paranoia that has reached delusional proportions. People experiencing cocaine psychosis have an unrealistic fear. "They become very anxious. They anticipate attack," said Lohrasbe. With increased use of cocaine, the ability to focus begins to deteriorate. Generally, said Lohrasbe, there is a correlation between the quantities consumed and the deterioration of attention and perception. "If you use cocaine on a consistent basis, it is pushing you towards paranoia, and paranoia and violence are closely linked. In that sense, cocaine causes violence through the promotion of paranoia," said Lohrasbe. The psychiatrist also described how people experiencing cocaine psychosis seem to have superhuman strength. The drug gives people the perception they are very powerful, said Lohrasbe. "It gives you the ability to tap into whatever strength you do have." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake