COCAINE TRIAL CONCLUDES WITH SPLIT VERDICT

Two British Columbia men caught driving through Manitoba with a
$3-million stash of cocaine are now headed in very different
directions in life.

James Oddleifson faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after
being convicted Tuesday of possession for the purpose of
trafficking.

But his co-accused, [redacted], can begin planning for his
future after being acquitted of the same offence.

The pair was arrested in July 2004 after a seemingly routine traffic
stop on the Trans-Canada Highway just west of Winnipeg proved to be
anything but -- police found 46 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a
secret compartment in their van.

It was the largest highway seizure ever made in the
province.

Oddleifson and [redacted] tried to exclude all the evidence earlier
this year based on what they claim was an illegal search and seizure.

Queen's Bench Justice Murray Sinclair rejected their motion, finding
that police officers conducted themselves properly.

Sinclair reserved his verdict on the case until Tuesday and came back
with the surprising mixed verdict.

[redacted] testified in his own defence and claimed he had no idea the
drugs were inside the vehicle that he was driving.

"Frankly, I don't believe his evidence... ," said Sinclair.

"He was likely very well aware of what was going on."

Despite the finding, Sinclair said he had no choice but to acquit
[redacted] because he had succeeded in "raising a reasonable doubt"
through his questionable denials.

Oddleifson, who didn't take the witness stand during trial, apparently
raised no such doubts in the judge's mind.

He will be sentenced on Sept. 11 and remains free on bail.