Judge faulted for nixing in-court voice recording of cop’s testimony
TORONTO — A man convicted of various drug and related offences won a new trial on Tuesday because a judge wouldn’t allow a high-quality voice recording of a police officer the accused alleged had set him up.
Court records show Brett Dunstan argued York Regional Police had staged a break-in at his home in Markam, Ont., in September 2011, and that an officer had then anonymously reported the incident.
Evidence was the caller reported seeing eight men running from the home. He gave the address, said they looked suspicious, and hung up. Because the call was to a non-emergency police number, its origin could not be traced.
Responding to the call, police entered the home without a warrant and found marijuana, cocaine and other drugs, as well as $100,000 in cash.