A drug charge against NHLer Mike Richards was stayed in court Wednesday morning over what his lawyer calls a “fatal defect” in the case.
The Kenora-born Richards, a member of the Washington Capitals, had been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance after being stopped crossing into Canada at Emerson, Man., last June.
“Mr. Richards always maintained that he would plead not guilty and would defend the case vigorously,” read a joint statement by Richards Toronto-based lawyer, David Humphrey, and his agent, Pat Morris. “After the Crown brief was disclosed to the defence, Mr.