THUNDER BAY - Two men charged with drug trafficking in the Project Dolphin investigation have managed to have nearly all of the evidence against them deemed inadmissable in court.
Lawyers for 35-year-old Keith Ritchie and 46-year-old Fortunato Colistro had appealed their convictions, claiming the evidence against them was all obtained through the seizure of a cell-phone without a proper warrant.
The Ontario Court of Appeal granted them a new trial. A local judge has ruled that Ritchie's credit card records and other evidence will not be allowed, due to the Charter of Rights breach involving the cell-phone.
Ritchie and Colistro's bail conditions have been reduced, while they await their new trial in front of a judge only, starting February 19th. And with that evidence now inadmissable, it's expected the charges will be dismissed.
(TBT News)
