VICTIM 'LIKELY CHRONIC' DRUG USER

Regular Use of Cocaine Often Leads to Paranoia, Expert Testifies

A Colwood man allegedly murdered by a former Highlands councillor and
his sons had a moderate-to-high amount of cocaine in his blood at the
time of his death, a forensic toxicologist said yesterday in B.C.
Supreme Court.

Heather Dinn, who works at the RCMP forensic lab in Vancouver, was
testifying at the second-degree murder trial of Ken Brotherston Sr.
and his two sons, Ken Jr., 33, and Gregory, 28. All three Brotherstons
are charged in connection with the death of 33-year-old Keith William
Taylor on May 30, 2008.

Dinn told the court she reviewed a report prepared by her colleague,
Lori Campbell, a toxicologist with the RCMP forensic lab in Halifax,
indicating Taylor had either taken a very large dose of cocaine or
several doses of the potent stimulant.

However, Dinn was unable to say what effect that amount of cocaine
would have had on Taylor.

"He could be in the active phase experiencing euphoria or the
withdrawal phase, experiencing fatigue, depression and lethargy," she
told prosecutor Patrick Weir.

Lab results also showed a high concentration of benzoylecgonine -- the
primary metabolite of cocaine -- in Taylor's blood, consistent with
binge use or spree use of cocaine, Dinn testified.

"This individual is likely a chronic user of cocaine and is now
ingesting the drug in a binge fashion and has been ingesting the drug
repeatedly prior to his death," she said.

Methamphetamine and amphetamine, which are stimulants, were also found
in a sample of Taylor's blood, said Dinn.

"It's not a particularly high level of methamphetamine. It's
consistent with a single dose, but it would add to the effect of the
cocaine as well."

Taylor could have taken a higher dose of methamphetamine up to 16
hours before his death or he could have taken a lower dose closer to
the time of his death, said Dinn.

Because cocaine is sometimes cut with methamphetamine, Taylor may not
have knowingly taken the drug.

Amitriptyline, a prescription anti-depressant, was also detected in
Taylor's blood.

A urine sample -- recording two or three days' drug use -- detected
methylecgonine, a compound formed when someone smokes crack cocaine.

During Dinn's testimony, lawyer Steven Kelliher, who is representing
Brotherston Sr., objected that the Crown did not enter Campbell's
toxicology report as an exhibit.

"In a case of second-degree murder, it's an astonishing proposition
that a toxicology report regarding the presence of intoxicants in the
body of the deceased is not being tendered by the Crown," said
Kelliher, who told the court he will subpoena Campbell and bring her
from Halifax to Victoria to testify at the trial.

During afternoon testimony, the Crown allowed Kelliher to call
forensic psychiatrist Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe to testify as an expert
about the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine and amitriptyline on
mental function.

Witnesses who are crack-cocaine addicts will be called to give
evidence during the trial.

Lohrasbe told the court the fundamental feature of cocaine psychosis
is paranoia that has reached delusional proportions. People
experiencing cocaine psychosis have an unrealistic fear.

"They become very anxious. They anticipate attack," said
Lohrasbe.

With increased use of cocaine, the ability to focus begins to
deteriorate. Generally, said Lohrasbe, there is a correlation between
the quantities consumed and the deterioration of attention and perception.

"If you use cocaine on a consistent basis, it is pushing you towards
paranoia, and paranoia and violence are closely linked. In that sense,
cocaine causes violence through the promotion of paranoia," said Lohrasbe.

The psychiatrist also described how people experiencing cocaine
psychosis seem to have superhuman strength.

The drug gives people the perception they are very powerful, said
Lohrasbe.

"It gives you the ability to tap into whatever strength you do have."