Natsis trial adjourned until Wednesday

The high-profile trial of a Pembroke dentist has been put off until Wednesday to allow the judge more time to examine whether a crash inspector can be called as an expert witness.

OPP Const. Shawn Kelly is being questioned on his qualifications and potential bias.

Dr. Christy Natsis is facing charges of impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit in the March 2011 crash on Highway 17 that killed 50-year-old Bryan Casey.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Neil Kozloff said in court Tuesday that even if he finds Kelly’s evidence admissible, he may not qualify it all as coming from an expert.

Kozloff said Kelly is not qualified, for example, to analyze the revolutions per minute of the wheels and engines of both vehicles on the night of the crash.

This comes a day after Kelly told the court multiple times that his knowledge in certain areas is limited — 19 times, according to a count by the Crown.

Natsis' defence team also questioned whether Kelly is biased because of information he left out of his crash report that would have weakened the defence's case.

Court was adjourned at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to allow Kozloff time to read other relevant cases.

The trial is set to resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday.