WATCH: Five months ago, all eyes were on the small community of Grand Desert, N.S. That’s where police spent nearly a week sort through a cache of chemicals. Its alleged the man at the centre of the bizarre case threatened police with a dangerous chemical. Today, his trial wrapped up. Global`s Natasha Pace reports.
HALIFAX – The judge heard closing arguments from the crown and defence lawyers in the dangerous chemicals trial of Christopher Phillips on Friday, but no decision was made about Phillips’ future.
Christopher Phillips has pleaded not guilty to charges of threatening police officers and possessing a weapon, the hazardous chemical osmium tetroxide, for a dangerous purpose.
“They’re separate charges, so there’s always the possibility that he could be found guilty or not guilty on one and not the other,” said crown attorney Karen Quigley.
Phillips’ defence lawyer Mike Taylor says Phillips wasn’t charged with any offence related to the 510 chemicals police found in his Grand Desert cottage, only with the connection to osmium tetroxide, so the evidence should only be focused on that.
The crown stated in their closing arguments that Phillips threatened to harm police with chemicals in an email to a friend, something the defence says is not true.
“When you look at the email in its entirety, all the words contained within it, it simply doesn’t contain a real threat,” said Taylor.
Taylor added that most of the evidence presented by the crown is “smoke and mirrors” and shouldn’t have any impact on the trial.
During testimony yesterday a retired chemist told court it’s questionable whether the substance could have been a useful weapon.
James Orr testified about an email in which Phillips describes making a box containing the chemical that could be thrown at police. He also testified that Phillips had many other chemicals that were more dangerous than osmium tetroxide.
The trail has seen a number of witnesses, including RCMP forensic chemist Melanie Broche, who testified that Phillips had enough chemicals at his Grand Dessert cottage to make 11 different types of explosives, but confirmed there was no evidence he was making any kind of device.
Phillips has been in custody since January. His lawyer says he is looking forward to having this all behind him.
“They’ve already said it’s a time served situation and I’ve never, ever, run into anyone whose served five months on a threats charge anyway. I’ve never heard of it, let alone come across it,” said Taylor.
The judge has reserved his decision on the case until June 24.
– With files from Canadian Press.
Comments