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 – February 8, 2025 – Severing Charges

by Pawel Milczarek | 8 February 2025 | Bail Pending Appeal, Insufficient Reasons, Severance | 0 Comments

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 [Lisa A. Silver J.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: Severance of charges can be crucial for the defence in several ways. An accused may wish to testify on some charges but not others. In jury trials, multiple charges can create undue prejudice,...

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

by Pawel Milczarek | 1 February 2025 | Disclosure, Similar Fact, The Principled Exception | 0 Comments

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 Collateral Fact [J.R. Presser J.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: The Crown often opposes disclosing a complainant’s past misconduct outside of criminal records. In this case, the defence sought video evidence of past violence involving the...

The Defence Toolkit – January 25, 2025: Video Statements

by Pawel Milczarek | 25 January 2025 | 715.1 Video Evidence, Charter 11(b), Memory | 0 Comments

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 Disclosures [Bernette Ho, Jane Fagnan, Karan M. Shaner JJ.A.] AUTHOR’S NOTE: This case offers a significant reminder of the procedural and substantive safeguards required when the Crown seeks to rely on section 715.1 of the...

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

Dec 14, 2024

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...

The Defence Toolkit – December 7, 2024: Oppressive Conditions

Dec 7, 2024

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...

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

Dec 2, 2024

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 Defence Toolkit – November 9, 2024: Counsel during Search Warrants

Nov 9, 2024

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...

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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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