The Defence Toolkit

The Defence Toolkit serves up summaries and commentary on the editor’s choice of the three best Canadian criminal defence cases every week. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to get notified of new posts.

The Defence Toolkit – December 14, 2024: The Unsavoury Witness and Hearsay

by Pawel Milczarek | 14 December 2024 | Conditional Sentence, Res Gestae, The Principled Exception | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Boucher, 2024 ABKB 707: #principled exception, R v Boucher, 2024 ABKB 722: s.8: res gestae & #silent adoption, and R v Vandal-Lauman, 2024 ABKB 667: conditional #sentence R v Boucher, 2024 ABKB 707 [November 5, 2024] The Principled Exception to Hearsay: the Unsavoury Witness [Justice Lisa A. Silver] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case is a textbook application of the caution outlined in R v Bradshaw regarding the admission of hearsay evidence, particularly when...

The Defence Toolkit – December 7, 2024: Oppressive Conditions

by Pawel Milczarek | 7 December 2024 | Charter s.8, Sexual History s 276, Voluntariness | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v TD, 2024 ABKB 605: #voluntariness, R v Williams, 2024 ONSC 6707: s.8: indiscernible items, and R v Gorges, 2024 ONCA 870: s.276 #procedure R v TD, 2024 ABKB 605 [October 11, 2024] Voluntariness - Oppressive Conditions - Complete Emotional Disintegration [Justice C.B. Thomson] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case emphasizes that the phrase "complete emotional disintegration" is not a strict legal test but rather a descriptive shorthand used to highlight circumstances...

The Defence Toolkit – December 2, 2024: The Place and Time of Self-Defence

by Pawel Milczarek | 2 December 2024 | Bad Character Evidence, Party Liability, Self-Defence | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Tanner, 2024 MBCA 87: #self-defence, R v RPP, 2024 SKCA 102: #bad character, and R v Newby, 2024 ABCA 360: #parties to trafficking R v Tanner, 2024 MBCA 87 [November 6, 2024] Self Defence: Alternatives are Considered Relative to the Imminence of the Threat [Reasons by Jennifer Pfuetzner J.A. with Christopher Mainella and David Kroft concurring] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case offers a clear summary of two key factors in the analysis of self-defense: Alternatives...

The Defence Toolkit – November 2, 2024: Constructive Possession

Nov 2, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Roy, 2024 SKCA 98: #possession, R v Gill, 2024 ABKB 623: recovered #memory, and R v Russel, 2024 BCCA 353: mental health #mitigation R v Roy, 2024 SKCA 98 [October 22, 2024] Circumstantial Evidence of Possession [Reasons by Jillyne...

The Defence Toolkit – October 26, 2024: Priming a Challenge

Oct 26, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Zamer, 2024 ONSC 4884: #challenge for cause, R v DAD, 2024 YKCA 9: min sentence #overturned, and R v Chartrand, 2024 BCCA 355: Browne v Dunn R v Zamer #5, 2024 ONSC 4884 [September 13, 2024] Challenge for Cause Process: Jury...

The Defence Toolkit – October 19, 2024: Gang Membership Challenge

Oct 19, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Whitehawk, 2024 SKCA 95: #gang challenge, R v Lewis, 2024 ONSC 5261: counsel #table, and R v Batista, 2024 ONSC 5455: #functus officio R v Whitehawk, 2024 SKCA 95 [October 9, 2024] Challenge for Cause: Gang Membership [Reasons by...

The Defence Toolkit – October 12, 2024: A Ruse Stop

Oct 12, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Gallant, 2024 ABKB 541: s.8 #ruse stop, R v Reimer, 2024 ABCJ 188: #disturbance & #mischief, and R v Clyke, 2024 NSCA 66: re-opening #appeal R v Gallant, 2024 ABKB 541 [September 16, 2024] Charter s.8: Ruse Traffic Stop...

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The Defence Toolkit – October 5, 2024: The Principled Exception

Oct 5, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Charles, 2024 SCC 29: #principled exception, R v R.A., 2024 ONCA 696: #spontaneous utterance, and R v DPT, 2024 ABCA 299: cross-count #evidence R v Charles, 2024 SCC 29 [September 25, 2024] The Principled Exception to Hearsay...

The Defence Toolkit – September 20, 2024: Crying Out

Sep 21, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Viau, 2024 ABCA 291: s271 #crying out, R v Stettner, 2024 SKCA 88: extrinsic #misconduct, and R v Brazil, 2024 ABKB 390: 11(b) #stay under 30. R v Viau, 2024 ABCA 291 [September 6, 2024] Sexual Assault: Myths and Crying Out for...

The Defence Toolkit – September 14, 2024: “Measuring Force in Self-Defence”

Sep 14, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v CD, 2024 NLCA 22: self #defence force, R v Jenkins, 2024 ONCA 533: police lay #opinion, and R v Borhot, 2024 ABKB 438: reverse #closing submissions. R v CD, 2024 NLCA 22 [June 18, 2024] Self-Defence: Measuring Force to a Nicety Not...

The Defence Toolkit – September 7, 2024 “Texting about Future Sex”

Sep 7, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Reimer, 2024 ONCA 519: s.276 #texts, R v McKay, 2024 SKCA 72: #toxicology evidence, and R v Smockum, 2024 SKCA 81: #silence in medical interviews R v Reimer, 2024 ONCA 519 [July 2, 2024] s.276: Texts Discussing Plans for Future...

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