Crown drops jail informant as witness in Andrew Rosenfeldt murder trial

WATCH: A forensic toxicologist testified that Nykera Brown had cocaine and meth in her system at the time of her death.

A man who shared a jail cell with Andrew Rosenfeldt and allegedly heard a confession will no longer be called to testify, the Crown announced Tuesday.

Rosenfeldt, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Nykera Brown.

Brown was found dead on Nov. 15, 2022, inside the Saskatoon apartment she shared with Rosenfeldt.

The Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rosenfeldt shot and killed Brown. Throughout the trial, the defence has suggested the shooting was a suicide.

The jail informant — whose identity is protected by a publication ban — was expected to be a key witness for the Crown.

From the outset, defence lawyer Chris Murphy objected to the man testifying, questioning his credibility.

He suggested the informant may have been under the influence of drugs when he spoke to police and had ulterior motives for coming forward.

“It’s important, from the defence’s perspective, to know whether or not this person is essentially a professional in-custody informant ... if this person’s heard more confessions than a Catholic priest, in custody, I’m entitled to know it,” Murphy said on Oct. 20, the first day of the trial.

Murphy argued the informant’s testimony had “real potential to throw this trial off the rails in many ways.”

Senior Crown Prosecutor Elizabeth Addabor didn’t provide a reason for deciding not to call the informant.

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Victim’s DNA detected on gun

RCMP forensic specialist Connie Leung testified Tuesday afternoon that Brown’s DNA was found on the .22-calibre rifle used to kill her.

Leung also detected male DNA, but said it was too weak to determine whether it belonged to Rosenfeldt.

She testified that she could not say how or when the DNA was deposited.

“It could have been deposited months ago, and the DNA would still be there,” Leung said.

Court heard Brown was wearing gloves when she died. When asked if DNA could transfer from hands through gloves, Leung said it would be “very unlikely.”

Addabor asked whether DNA could transfer if the gun was placed on a bed the victim had slept on.

“It’s highly possible,” Leung replied, noting that skin cells often transfer to bedding.

Police found the gun tucked inside the box spring of the couple’s bed.

Brown’s mother is expected to testify Wednesday.