WOMAN TOOK PILLS BEFORE TESTIFYING

Melanie Stephen was granted a rare bit of leeway in court Wednesday
that allows her to review the transcript of her earlier testimony
while still under oath.

Ms. Stephen, the estranged wife of Michael Patriquen, founder of the
Nova Scotia Marijuana Party, admitted in court that she took sleeping
pills before testifying in her money laundering and possessing
proceeds of crime trial, which began in February.

The Lower Sackville woman, who is in the midst of being
cross-examined by federal Crown attorney Ann Marie Simmons, told Nova
Scotia Supreme Court Justice Felix Cacchione that she mixed the pills
up with her anti-depressant medication.

She said she took one pill on her first day of testimony March 19 and
two more on the morning of March 21. Those are in addition to the
ones she took at night to help her sleep, she said.

Ms. Stephen said she remembers little of the two days of questioning
by her lawyer Ken Greer and the Crown.

"I was very tired, kind of spacey," Ms. Stephen said when asked to
describe the effect the pills had on her. "I was feeling more
scattered and more exhausted as the day wore on."

Ms. Simmons said she was reluctant to continue her cross-examination
if Ms. Stephen couldn't recall her previous answers.

Justice Cacchione called a brief recess so the lawyers could discuss
how to handle the unusual situation. They came back a half-hour later
and asked the judge to adjourn for the rest of the day so that Ms.
Stephen could review the transcripts of her testimony.

After some discussion, Justice Cacchione agreed, giving Ms. Stephen
until 9:30 a.m. today to carefully read the 279-page document.

The charges against Ms. Stephen stem from a massive drug bust in
February 2000 involving her estranged husband.

Mr. Patriquen was found to be the boss of a number of
marijuana-growing operations in Newfoundland and in the Rawdon and
Noel areas of Hants County. He was also accused of money laundering
and possessing proceeds of crime. He pleaded guilty to the possession
charge and received three years to be served concurrently with a
six-year sentence he received in September 2002 for conspiracy and
drug trafficking. He was also fined $259,427.

Ms. Stephen's trial, which began on Feb. 12, is expected to wrap up
today. Justice Cacchione will deliver his decision at a later date.