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 – April 12, 2025: Common Sense

by Pawel Milczarek | 12 April 2025 | Charter 11(b), Common Sense Assumptions, Counterfeit Money, Stereotypes of Human Behaviour | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v PP, 2025 ONCA 243: #arranged marriage, R v Vaughan, 2025 ONSC 1751, s.11(b) under 30, R v Admussen, 2025 ABCJ 49: #counterfeit R v PP, 2025 ONCA 243 [March 28, 2025] Commons Sense Assumptions by Judges: Arranged Marriage, Freudian Slips [Reasons by I.V.B. Nordheimer J.A. with S. Coroza and J. George JJ.A. concurring.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case serves as a sharp reminder of how "common sense" assumptions and stereotypes can easily slip into legal error:...

The Defence Toolkit – April 5, 2025: Arrest outside Courtroom

by Pawel Milczarek | 5 April 2025 | Charter 11(b), Credibility, Possession | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Jackson, 2025 ONSC 1677: s11(b) new #arrest, R v Stewart, 2025 ONSC 1277, #possession in glovebox, R v Zborowsky, 2025 ABCJ 44: #credibility factors R v Jackson, 2025 ONSC 1677 [March 14, 2025] Charter s.11(b): Arrest Interfering with Ongoing Trial Proceedings [M. Gibson J.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case highlights how police discretion in arrest timing can impact an accused's right to a timely trial under s.11(b) of the Charter. The accused was arrested...

The Defence Toolkit – March 29, 2025: Breaches and Discoverability

by Pawel Milczarek | 29 March 2025 | Amicus, Charter s24(2), Discoverability, Overturning a Guilty Plea | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v James, 2025 ONCA 213: s24(2) #discoverability, R v Gordon, 2025 ONCA 201, judge #promise and GP, R v JC, 2025 ONCA 230: expanded #amicus R v James, 2025 ONCA 213 [March 20, 2025] Charter s.24(2): Discoverability and Cumulative Effect of Breaches [Reasons by van Rensburg J.A. with B.W. Miller and S. Gomery JJ.A concurring] AUTHOR’S NOTE: Discoverability of evidence plays a crucial role in the second stage of the Charter s.24(2) analysis. It can either...

The Defence Toolkit – March 15, 2025: The Right to Interpretation

Mar 15, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Chen, 2025 ONCA 135: s.14 #interpreter, R v Nettleton, 2025 ONCA 155, GP and #arraignment, #penitentiary, R v Roshuk-Finch, 2025 ABCA 85: #step principle R v Chen, 2025 ONCA 168 [March 6, 2025] Charter s.14 - The Right to...

The Defence Toolkit – March 8, 2025: The Reid Technique

Mar 8, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Ordonio, 2025 ONCA 135: s.8 #voluntariness & time, R v Deverze, self #defence and weapon and R v Hallman, 2025 ONCA 123: #provocation R v Ordonio, 2025 ONCA 135 [February 25, 2025] Voluntariness: Length of the Interrogation and...

The Defence Toolkit – March 1, 2025: Search Warrants and Names

Mar 1, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Payne, 2025 NSCA 10: s.8 #warrant review, R v Ozeir, s.9 individual #grounds and R v Trepanier, 2025 ONSC 1200: #principled exception R v Payne, 2025 NSCA 11 [February 20, 2025] Charter s.8: Search Warrant Review: Identification of...

The Defence Toolkit – February 22, 2025: Parole Eligibility and Pre-Trial Custody

Feb 22, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Sheepway, 2025 YKCA 1: #parole & pre-trial custody, R v Khamvongsa, 2025 ABCA 43: #inconsistencies and R v Wendt and Ferri, 2025 ONSC 812: s.8 home #safety search R v Sheepway, 2025 YKCA 1 [February 11, 2025] Harsh Pre-Trial...

Browse Popular Categories

Browse All Categories

Evidence

Sentencing

Charter s.8

Appeals

Credibility

Sexual Assault

The Defence Toolkit: February 15, 2024 – Role Play

Feb 15, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v T.S., 2025 BCCA 25: #consent & role play, R v Khamvongsa, 2025 BCCA 33: 24(2) on s.8 breach and R v Stevenson, 2025 SKCA 13: DO #sentencing R v T.S., 2025 BCCA 25 [January 31, 2025] Sexual Assault: Role Play and Consent...

The Defence Toolkit – February 8, 2025 – Severing Charges

Feb 8, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Boucher, 2025 ABKB 56: charges #severance, R v Leonard, 2025 ONCA 57: insufficient #reasons and R v Buonomo, 2025 ONCA 62: BPA #fentanyl R v Boucher, 2025 ABKB 56 [January 30, 2025] Severance of Charges: Murder and Other Offences...

The Defence Toolkit – February 1, 2025: Disclosure of Videos of Complainant Violence

Feb 1, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Haley, 2025 ONSC 265: s.7 #disclosure, R v AV, 2025 ONSC 57: #similar fact, and R v Lemay-Storms, 2025 ABKB 39: #principled exception R v Haley, 2025 ONSC 265 [January 16, 2025] Charter s.7: Past Complainant Violence Video and...

The Defence Toolkit – January 25, 2025: Video Statements

Jan 25, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Reves, 2025 ABCA 5: s.715.1 #statements, R v SLB, 2024 ABCA 412: #historical memory, and R v RB-C, 2024 ONCA 930: 11(b) post-conviction R v Reves, 2025 ABCA 5 [January 9, 2025] Admissibility of s.715.1 Statements: Context of Prior...

The lawyers at Sitar & Milczarek love written advocacy and ghostwriting services

Our lawyers have been litigating criminal trials and appeals for over 16 years in courtrooms throughout Canada. We can be of assistance to your practice. Whether you are looking for an appeal referral or some help with a complex written argument, our firm may be able to help. Our firm provides the following services available to other lawyers for referrals or contract work:

Please review the rest of the website to see if our services are right for you.

Sitar & Milczarek