Sudbury fentanyl overdose death trial to resume later this month

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The trial of a Waterloo man accused of manslaughter in connection with a drug-related death in Sudbury two years ago has been adjourned until the end of August.

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Gianluca Scaglione, Det. Const. of the Greater Sudbury Police and lead investigator in the case against 36-year-old Bidah Preet Singh Bhatia, has finished his testimony.

However, the trial could not continue on Friday because lead defense attorney Kim Schofield was unavailable.

Joshua McInnes of Greater Sudbury – the last key witness – is now scheduled to testify on August 26.

On November 8, 2023, McInnes, then 31, received a suspended sentence of two years minus one day after pleading guilty to manslaughter and possession of cocaine for the purposes of drug trafficking.

McInnes survived an overdose of cocaine and fentanyl. His co-worker Kris Longarini, 48, did not survive.

The two had decided to snort cocaine at Longarini's house in Copper Cliff on August 16, 2022.

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Bhatia, who is in custody, is facing charges of manslaughter, drug trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

According to an agreed statement of facts read to the court by Deputy District Attorney Mathieu Ansell, McInnes had purchased the cocaine that he and Longarini took. Both lost consciousness after taking it and apparently did not know that it was laced with fentanyl.

When Longarini's parents returned home the next day, they had been away and found their son and McInnes lying unconscious on the floor.

McInnes woke up disoriented and unwell. He was taken to Health Sciences North, where it was determined he was suffering from fentanyl poisoning.

Kris never regained consciousness and died.

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An autopsy revealed that Kris' death was due to acute fentanyl poisoning. Toxicology tests revealed a fentanyl level of over 14 nanograms/milliliter in his blood, more than four times the safe limit of 3.0 nanograms for the drug. Cocaine and fentanyl were detected in Kris' nose.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Martin Queen testified that tests in Longarini's body found high levels of fentanyl, cocaine metabolites and tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient in cannabis.

Queen concluded that Longarini's cause of death was acute fentanyl poisoning.

“He was taking cocaine,” Queen said. “I don't think it was a significant factor in his death. Fentanyl was the cause of death. It took a while, but it wasn't a quick, sudden death.”

The police investigation led to Bhatia. Police searched his Waterloo home on December 15, 2022. They found two mobile phones, one of which had sent text messages to McInnes' phone.

Officers also found approximately $180,000 in Canadian and American currency and $300,000 in suspected stolen goods.

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