Ex-CFLer’s trial for drug trafficking delayed

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This article was published 20/11/2017 (2862 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The defence lawyer for a Winnipeg-born Saskatchewan Roughriders player on trial for allegations of drug trafficking says he needs more time to go through 8,000 pages of transcripts of phone messages the Crown expects to use against the accused in court.

Jordan Reaves, 27, was charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking cocaine and has maintained his innocence. His co-accused, 29-year-old Seif Ali, pleaded guilty Monday as the trial was set to begin.

Seif admitted he had three ounces of cocaine, found in a vacuum-sealed bag at his feet during a police traffic stop in Winnipeg on Nov. 18, 2015. He is on bail and is expected to be sentenced in January.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Richard Saull began Monday’s court appearance by saying he has known Reaves’ father for many years during Saull’s time as a Crown attorney. Reaves is the son of former Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Willard Reaves, who was also present in court Monday.

“I mention it only in a cautionary way,” the judge said. “I don’t know the accused, either one of them, and I don’t have any problem hearing a trial on this matter.”

Federal Crown prosecutor Hugh Crawley raised no objections to the trial going ahead as planned, but it’s been delayed until at least Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Evan Roitenberg asked Saull to consider adjourning the trial to a later date to allow him more time to review a report from an expert who is set to testify for the Crown about coded language used in the drug trade and interpretations of text messages seized by police. The report was given to the defence team about two and a half weeks ago, Roitenberg said.

The judge said he will look into available future court dates and decide on Tuesday whether to grant the adjournment or go ahead with the trial.

As the Free Press previously reported, Jordan Reaves played basketball for the Brandon University Bobcats before turning to football. He was signed by the Blue Bombers in 2015 but was cut after playing in a pair of pre-season games as a wide receiver.

Reaves signed with Saskatchewan in 2016 and played in five games as a defensive end and had signed another contract to stay with the team this year.

Reaves was charged in February 2008 with possession for the purpose of trafficking and breaching conditions of his bail. He pleaded guilty in December 2008 and was given a two-year-less-a-day conditional sentence, one year of supervised probation and a 10-year weapons prohibition.

– with files from Mike McIntyre

 

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay