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 – November 9, 2024: Counsel during Search Warrants

by Pawel Milczarek | 9 November 2024 | Browne v Dunn, Charter 10(b), Ineffective Assistance | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Samuels, 2024 ONCA 786: s10(b)/24(2) SW #delay, R v Stettner, 2024 SKCA 101: #ineffective appeal, and R v BB, 2024 ONCA 788: Browne v Dunn #jury R v Samuels, 2024 ONCA 786 [October 28, 2024] Charter s.10(b)/24(2) Delay of Counsel Contact for Search Warrants [Reasons by Dawe J.A. with L. Madsen J.A. concurring and J.C. MacPherson J.A. concurring with separate reasons] AUTHOR’S NOTE: In cases where search warrants are executed on a property, courts have...

The Defence Toolkit – November 2, 2024: Constructive Possession

by Pawel Milczarek | 2 November 2024 | Mental Health Mitigation, Possession, Recovered Memory | 1 Comment

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 M. Drennan J.A. with Robert W. Leurer C.J. and Catherine L. Dawson J.A. concurring] AUTHOR’S NOTE: In criminal law, establishing possession involves demonstrating both knowledge and control over the item in question. However,...

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

by Pawel Milczarek | 26 October 2024 | Browne v Dunn, Challenge for Cause, Charter s.12 | 0 Comments

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 Questionnaire and Priming [Molloy J.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case offers valuable insight into effective practices for jury selection questionnaires, emphasizing open-ended and interactive questioning to uncover and address potential...

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...

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...

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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...

The Defence Toolkit – August 31, 2024: Identifying a Voice

Aug 31, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v AW, 2024 ONCA 564: #voice ID, R v Jeremschuk, 2024 ABCA 268: #angry self defence, and R v Roche-Garcia, 2024 BCCA 298: s.715.1 embedded #hearsay R v AW, 2024 ONCA 564 [July 17, 2024] Voice Identification [Reasons by L. Madsen J.A....

The Defence Toolkit – July 20, 2024: Chokeholds and Legal Error

Jul 20, 2024

This week's top three summaries: R v Hodgson, 2024 SCC 25: #error of law, R v DB, 2024 ONCA 546: accused #reaction, and R v Belval, 2024 ABCA 215: s276 con't #gatekeeper. R v Hodgson, 2024 SCC 25 [July 12, 2024] Appeals: Definition of an Error of Law, Intent for...

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