It’s a stunning turn in a case that had been set to go to trial just weeks before the fall federal election got underway.

It is being widely reported that prosecutors are expected Wednesday to abandon their high profile criminal case against Vice Admiral Mark Norman.

The vice admiral is facing a breach of trust charge for allegedly leaking confidential details of a cabinet discussion on a $700-million shipbuilding contract.

One published report quotes an unnamed source as saying there were growing doubts about the strength of the prosecution’s case.

The decision to drop the charge comes just days after the revelation that Liberal MP Andrew Leslie, himself a retired lieutenant general and a former commander of the Canadian Army, was prepared to testify on Norman’s behalf.

Opposition MPs have charged that Norman was being made the fall guy by the Liberals for a political leak.

From the start, Norman through his lawyer, has maintained his innocence.