Preliminary hearing set in fentanyl case

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 24, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A preliminary hearing date is set for a man who police say was found with three kilograms of fentanyl earlier this year.

Lawyers for John Elford, 52, of Edmonton, told provincial court that their election was to have the matters heard by King’s Bench judge and jury, and announced a date for a one-day preliminary hearing had been scheduled for June 5.

Elford was arrested on Jan. 28 after police say they proceeded to search a vehicle that was parked haphazardly on Red Deer Drive in Medicine Hat during the overnight hours.

He is charged with two counts of possessing narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and three charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Elford, who has not entered a plea, is represented by Calgary-based lawyer Katherine Beyak.