A doctor in Eastern Ontario is facing four counts of first-degree murder and negligence causing death in connection with the deaths of four elderly people in Hawkesbury, Ontario. The hospital was acquitted of all charges in an Ottawa court on Tuesday.

In March 2021, Brian Nadler was charged after OPP was called to Hawkesbury General Hospital to investigate the death of 89-year-old Albert Poindinger, from Pointe-Claire, QC. Nadler was a physician at the hospital at the time.

One year later, in August 2022, the Crown Attorney's Office charged Nadler with three additional counts of first-degree murder. These charges were related to the deaths of Claire Brier, 80, from Rigaud, QC; Lorene Lalande, 79, from Hawkesbury, Ontario; and Judith Longulescu, 93, from East Hawkesbury Township, Ontario. The hospital stated at the time that all the victims were patients under Nadler's care.

Last week, CTV News reported that Nadler is expected to be acquitted after the Crown's attorney in the case provided no evidence when the trial began on Tuesday.

Crown attorney Robin Flumerfelt said in court on Tuesday: "In light of the evidentiary rulings made by this court, including the exclusion of expert evidence presented by the Crown, there is no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction. The impact of the evidentiary rulings made by this court is to exclude evidence that is significant enough for the prosecution, which the Crown cannot provide."

Nadler has maintained his innocence, as his lawyers claimed in 2022 that all four victims died due to COVID-19. Nadler has been out on bail for the past three years under several conditions, including a prohibition on practicing medicine.