Judge rejects Crown request to bring new evidence to Hodgson trial

Nunavut Justice Susan Charlesworth denied an application Thursday by Crown lawyers in Daniel Hodgson’s murder trial to bring in a new expert to testify about the accused’s steroid use.

Hodgson is on trial for the second-degree murder of Bradley Winsor, who died following an altercation between the two men at an early morning house party in Apex on May 19, 2017.

Hodgson put Winsor into a chokehold at the party, causing Winsor to collapse, unconscious. He later died.

Earlier this week, Hodgson testified about his fitness level at the time of the incident. He said he was working out regularly and taking a testosterone supplement.

Though Hodgson said he had low testosterone levels at the time that were being monitored, the steroids were not actually prescribed by a doctor.

In Iqaluit court on Thursday, Crown lawyer Greg Lyndon asked Charlesworth for an adjournment of several weeks to secure an expert to testify on Hodgson’s use of steroids.

“This evidence would be helpful to the court on two issues: Hodgson’s credibility and to understand the effects of anabolic steroids on him, in terms of his mood and behaviour management.”

The Crown has argued that Hodgson ignored the pleas of other party-goers to let Winsor loose of the chokehold, though Hodgson said he only held onto Winsor for about 10 seconds.

Justice Charlesworth denied the application, saying that Hodgson’s steroid use is irrelevant.

“The Crown was alerted to the fact that the accused used steroids in police reports they saw over four years ago,” she told the court Thursday.

“This case has been going on for four years, and the Crown has had ample time to investigate and have its expert ready to testify.”

With a second-degree murder charge, the Crown must prove that Hodgson meant to cause Winsor’s death, or that he was aware that the harm he caused could have resulted in death.

Crown and defence lawyers will present their final submissions to the court Friday starting at 1:30 p.m.