Nicholas Roberts

Nicholas Roberts testified for the Commonwealth on Day 7 about toxicology testing of specimens associated with Lindsay Clancy and his previously admitted report, Exhibit 183. A former Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab toxicology analyst, he described about nine years at the laboratory, forensic-science education, and laboratory training. Shanan Buckingham elicited the testing foundation and his interpretation of the results.

Roberts reported no detected alcohol and confirmed blood findings for diazepam, nordiazepam, oxazepam, temazepam, and lorazepam. Other detected substances included mirtazapine, lamotrigine, quetiapine, a quetiapine metabolite, and trazodone. His laboratory could not quantify those other substances; to his knowledge, the specimens went to NMS Labs. He was unsure whether the benzodiazepine concentrations were therapeutic and did not determine how the drugs affected Clancy individually. He explained that nordiazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam tend to be diazepam metabolites, so the five benzodiazepine findings did not establish the number of medications involved.

On cross-examination by Kevin Reddington, Roberts acknowledged that the findings included quite a few drugs and metabolites, while distinguishing parent drugs from the body's breakdown products. He was unfamiliar with the specific collection timing and did not know which drugs came from prescriptions. Asked about THC, he said that, to his knowledge, none was found. The Commonwealth declined redirect, and Roberts was excused.