Two years after a shooting at a high-end hotel in the city's downtown, the ex-girlfriend of the man who was shot testified in a Toronto courtroom on Tuesday.
Nataly Albatin is the Crown's star witness in the case against her ex-boyfriend Sean Erez, of Montreal, and Evgene Starchik, of Vancouver, for charges of cocaine trafficking.
On Canada Day weekend in 2006, shots rang out at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel and heavily armed police poured into the building and removed a wounded Sean Erez.
Prosecutors allege the two men were in town to make a drug deal; a deal that soured and led a pair of gunmen to shoot Erez in his 28th floor room.
Meanwhile, Starchik was found beaten and handcuffed in the hotel's parking garage.
The gunmen got away.
Albatin, also of Montreal, testified that the trip to Toronto two years ago was a 'shopping getaway' and that she accidentally discovered the bags of cocaine while looking through Erez's luggage.
She was also charged with drug trafficking but had the charges stayed by the crown when she agreed to become a witness for the prosecution.
A defence lawyer accused Albatin of downplaying her involvement in the deal on Tuesday and allege she is trying to exact revenge on her former lover.
During the cross-examination the defence asked Albatin, "You're a bitter woman?"
Albatin responded by saying, "Are you trying to say Sean Erez ruined my life? Yes, he ruined my life."
The defence also said Erez never told his ex that he was guilty, but Albatin responded, "No, but he acted guilty."
The charges against Albatin have not been dropped by the Crown and can be re-activated within one year.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
With a report by CTV's Chris Eby
