Drug trafficking trial witness claims ties to Hells Angels
RCMP seized $90,000 worth of marijuana and cocaine from truck outside Yellowknife in 2010
A man testified that he has ties to the Hells Angels in a Yellowknife courtroom Thursday during a drug trafficking trial involving nearly $90,000 worth of marijuana and cocaine.
Robert Livingstone and Rory Moore are charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Moore’s trial began Thursday. A date has not yet been set for Livingstone’s case.
Const. Dale Stewart, who used to work with the Yellowknife RCMP's organized crime unit, testified Thursday an informant tipped him off in June 2010 that Moore and Livingstone were headed to Yellowknife in a black truck and that they were known to have drugs.
Police arrested the men about 40 kilometres outside of Yellowknife.
When they searched the car, the RCMP's gang unit tore open a spare tire and the backseat and found drugs wrapped in packaging and dryer sheets, which are known to mask the smell of drugs.
Police found nearly 3,000 grams of marijuana and 268 grams of cocaine. The drugs have a street value of up to $90,000.
Livingstone appeared in court to testify against Moore.
He testified that he got the drugs from his cousin, who is connected to the Hells Angels.
He said that while his cousin didn’t offer him money to deliver the drugs to Yellowknife, his cousin often manipulated and bullied him into being his mule and drug runner. He said he was never told what to do with the drugs once he got to Yellowknife.
Livingstone testified that he hid drugs in the truck the two were driving from B.C. to Yellowknife.
On Friday he was cross-examined by Moore's lawyer, who highlighted inconsistencies in Livingstone's testimony.
In final arguments Friday, the Crown lawyer said she has proven that Moore knew drugs were in the car bound for Yellowknife from B.C. The defence told Justice Virginia Schuler she can't rely on Livingstone's testimony because he's an admitted drug addict, with a cloudy memory.
Schuler will deliver her verdict on April 10.