A trial for an alleged Yellowknife fentanyl dealer won't go ahead as planned after the accused and his lawyer parted ways late last week.
Darcy Oake, 24, was set to face a judge alone in Supreme Court for a week-long trial beginning Tuesday, but his lawyer, Charles Davison, filed an application on Jan. 3, to be removed as counsel for the accused.
Davison cited a "breakdown in communication" between him and his client as grounds for the application.
The application to remove Davison as Oake's lawyer was approved by Justice Shannon Smallwood on the same day.
Oake was arrested and charged in November 2016 after Yellowknife Mounties executed a search warrant at the accusedSA国际影视传媒檚 Borden Drive residence. seized a drug, which, as stated in a news release issued by Mounties the next month, was identified as Furanylfentanyl, a less potent form of fentanyl.
Oake faces charges of unlawfully importing a Schedule 1 substance, trafficking a Schedule 1 substance and possessing for the purpose of trafficking a Schedule 1 substance. Oake is also charged with causing bodily harm by criminal negligence in allegedly providing the drug.
Oake's then-lawyer Davison attempted to have his client released on bail over the holidays late last month, but the application was denied.
Oake now has until Jan. 14 SA国际影视传媒� his next court date SA国际影视传媒� to secure a lawyer through legal aid.
It's unclear when the trial will now begin following last week's adjournment.
