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 – May 3, 2025: Panicked Provocation

by Pawel Milczarek | 4 May 2025 | After the Fact Conduct, Credibility, Provocation, The Principled Exception, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Picken, 2025 SKCA 43: #provocation, R v Lako, 2025 ONCA 284: #principled exception, R v Davis, 2025 ONSC 2404: #trauma and #flight R v Picken, 2025 SKCA 43 [April 22, 2025] Panicking can be Consistent with a Provocation Defence [Reasons by Meghan R. McCreary J.A. with Liam M. Schwann and Keith D. Kilback JJ.A. concurring] AUTHOR'S NOTE: This case is a valuable doctrinal clarification that broadens the emotional range for the provocation defence beyond the...

The Defence Toolkit – April 19, 2025: s.10(b) – Just Dial the Number

by Pawel Milczarek | 19 April 2025 | Charter 10(b), During Search Warrant Execution, Gladue - Mitigation, The Principled Exception | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Tierney, 2025 ABKB 223: 10(b) SW #delay & overhold, R v Cardinal, 2025 ABCA 128: #principled exception, R v Davis, 2025 BCCA 113: #gladue & s268, R v Tierney, 2025 ABKB 223 [April 9, 2025] Charter s.10(b): Search Warrant Delay and Access to Counsel [Justice Kent J. Teskey] AUTHOR'S NOTE: This decision is a breath of fresh air in an area that’s been marked by entrenched police habits and resistance to constitutional accountability. Justice Teskey...

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 – 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...

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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...

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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...

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...

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