Toronto Criminal Law Blog

In December of 2017, Ontario passed Bill 174 regulating the sale of recreational marijuana in the province. Under the Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act there are changes to the distracted driving laws that came into effect on January 1st, 2019. This will have an impact on all drivers, not just those driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. Under the new amendment law enforcement is cracking down on distracted driving, and the consequences are severe. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation Jeff Yurek, as of the first of this year, Ontario has the strictest…

Joseph A. Neuberger Neuberger & Partners LLP www.nrlawyers.com If you have been charged with sexual assault, it is of the utmost importance that you and your lawyer lay out a coherent defence theory and obtain all necessary evidence to marshal your defence.  This will often include details of the complainant’s sexual history as it relates to your defence and to issues that are relevant in the evidence of the complainant.  In order to prevent complainants from unnecessary humiliation at trial, there are very strict guidelines and procedures on what and how sexual history evidence can be used at trial.  In…

By Joseph A. Neuberge Neuberger & Partners LLP www.nrlawyers.com Growing public and media attention on the way sexual assault trials are conducted has increased the scrutiny upon defence lawyers and how these trials are conducted, with a focus on the way a complainant experiences the trial process. Since new legislation was passed in Canada, by Bill C-51 in December 2018, there are new rules governing evidence and the cross-examination of complainants in sexual assault trials. These changes mostly altered the way that evidence must be vetted prior to trial but haven’t changed whether or not relevant evidence is admissible. It…

Joseph A. Neuberger, LL.B., LL.M., C.S. Neuberger & Partners LLP www.nrlawyers.com In a recent precedent setting case out of Alberta, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned Bradley Barton’s manslaughter acquittal and ordered a new trial due to the Crown’s failure to be alert to the issue of the victim’s privacy regarding her sexual history. Mr. Barton was on trial for first degree murder in the death of an Indigenous woman and sex worker, who was found dead in the bathroom of the accused hotel room. The cause of death was determined to be an 11cm wound in the vaginal wall.…

By Christopher K. Assié & Joseph Neuberger Neuberger & Partners LLP The new amendments to the Criminal Code have changed the drinking and driving landscape significantly. Two changes are attracting particular attention due to their impacts on protected Charter rights and a serious potential for wrongful convictions. Arguably the most concerning amendment is the creation of a new offence – consuming too much alcohol or drugs after driving. Under s. 320.14(a) and (b), anyone with a blood alcohol concentration or blood drug concentration above the prescribed limits two hours after they have ceased driving is guilty of an offence. The…

Recent changes to the impaired driving laws by the Federal Government developed to combat drinking and driving offences and the impact of legalizing cannabis, the laws surrounding impaired driving in Canada changed on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. These changes come as part of Bill C-46 which was enacted to ensure deterrence from impaired driving by making the penalties some of the most severe in the world. What Hasn't Changed The amount of alcohol allowed in your system, or the blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) has not changed for drivers. For fully licensed “G” class drivers over the age of 21, that is…

The growing concern to address sexual assault allegations on university campuses has resulted in a new vigilance to investigate and litigate allegations against students and faculty with little to no protection of the accused person’s fundamental rights.  Increasingly students and faculty members accused of sexual misconduct, even absent criminal charges, are being forced to participate in pseudo-trials designed by universities. The accusations being made through these tribunals are often very serious in nature and the universities cannot guarantee that the complainant will not proceed with criminal charges. ost people who are accused think that they can engage in a rational…

Being arrested, detained or charged with a crime can leave you feeling scared and vulnerable. It’s important to remember that in a situation like this, you still have rights. Under Section 10 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, everyone has the right on arrest or detention: To be informed promptly of the reasons therefor; To retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and To have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.   It is always in your…

What is Bill C-51?   According to the Government of Canada’s website it is, “Legislation introduced by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on June 6, 2017 [that] reflects the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to ensure that Canada’s criminal justice system protects Canadians, holds offenders to account, shows compassion to victims, and upholds the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” Advocates for those falsely accused of sex crimes have a different interpretation. While the Bill is meant to “ensure that victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence are treated with the utmost compassion and respect”, it…

By Joseph Neuberger and Christopher Assié Originally published by Lexus Nexis. (www.thelawyersdaily.ca)       The new amendments to the Criminal Code have changed the drinking and driving landscape significantly. Two changes are attracting particular attention due to their impacts on protected Charter rights and a serious potential for wrongful convictions. Arguably the most concerning amendment is the creation of a new offence — consuming too much alcohol or drugs after driving. Under s. 320.14(a) and (b), anyone with a blood alcohol concentration or blood drug concentration above the prescribed limits two hours after they have ceased driving is guilty…

Life has a habit of throwing you curves. There can be situations where, in a million years, you would have never expected that you would need to hire a criminal defence lawyer. Domestic abuse allegations are very serious and can have dire consequences for the person accused of family relations, including custody and access to children. In Ontario, there are mandatory charge polices that result in a charge or charges being laid with only the statement of the complainant to substantiate the allegations. The person who is accused of such an offence has his or her life turned upside down…

We live in an age where sexual assault and domestic violence allegations are being taken more seriously than ever before. And for the true victims of these crimes, this comes as a welcome relief.  Sadly however, there are those that would take advantage of the seriousness of such allegations and falsely use them to their own benefit. Being falsely accused of domestic violence - whether an assault or sexual assault - is common in high conflict divorce cases.  These allegations are often used to gain an advantage in family court proceedings particularly when access and custody is an issue.  These…