Crown drops trafficking charges against Dr. Sarah Jones

The Crown has dropped the two most serious charges facing Dr. Sarah Dawn Jones of Tantallon, N.S.

Jones, whose trialstarted this week in Bridgewater, was accused of writing prescriptions for thousands of opioid pills for a patient but actually sending them elsewhere.

But on Thursday, Crown attorney Josh Bryson said he was dropping the charges of trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking because he didn't have a realistic prospect of conviction. After two days of evidence and four witnesses, Bryson said he couldn't prove that the drugs were not delivered to the patient in question.

Believed conviction was possible

"As we always do with these cases, we had to assess reassess our prospect," he said.

"There was no point in dragging that aspect of the case out."

Going into trial,Byson said he believed he had what he needed in witness statements to get a conviction, but testimony in court didn't come out the way he expected.

The trial resumes Tuesday on charges of unlawful possession of oxycodone and fraud. Bryson said he expects the Crown will finish its case that day.