R. v. Benson, (1991) 97 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 99 (NFTD)

JudgeL.D. Barry, J.
CourtSupreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
Case DateSeptember 18, 1991
JurisdictionNewfoundland and Labrador
Citations(1991), 97 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 99 (NFTD)

R. v. Benson (1991), 97 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 99 (NFTD);

    308 A.P.R. 99

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen (appellant) v. Richard Willis Benson (respondent)

(1991 St. J. No. 0923)

Indexed As: R. v. Benson

Newfoundland Supreme Court

Trial Division

L.D. Barry, J.

November 4, 1991.

Summary:

A notice of intention to seek a greater penalty because of previous convictions referred to s. 255 of the Criminal Code (penalty section) rather than s. 253 (offence section). The trial judge held that the notice was defective. The Crown appealed.

The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, allowed the appeal.

Criminal Law - Topic 5606

Punishments - General principles - Increased punishment for prior convictions - A notice of intention to seek a greater penalty because of previous convictions referred to s. 255 of the Criminal Code (penalty section) rather than s. 253 (offence section) - The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, held that the notice was valid - There was no error or ambiguity that would mislead the accused and the notice adequately informed the accused that a greater penalty would be sought by reason of his previous convictions - See paragraphs 8 to 19.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Monk (1981), 62 C.C.C.(2d) 6 (Ont. C.A.), appld. [para. 9].

R. v. Pidlubny (1973), 10 C.C.C.(2d) 178 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Bear (No. 2) (1979), 2 Sask.R. 191; 47 C.C.C.(2d) 462 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Taylor (1963), 42 W.W.R.(N.S.) 692 (B.C.C.A.), appld. [para. 12].

R. v. Williams (1988), 72 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 233; 223 A.P.R. 233 (Nfld. T.D.), appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Reid (1970), 12 C.R.N.S. 112 (B.C.C.A.), appld. [para. 15].

R. v. Hennebury (1990), 81 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 196; 255 A.P.R. 196 (Nfld. T.D.), appld. [para. 15].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 236.1 [para. 16].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 237(b) [para. 3]; sect. 253 [para. 8]; sect. 253(a) [para. 16]; sect. 253(b) [para. 2]; sect. 255(1) [para. 16]; sect. 255(1)(a)(iii) [para. 6]; sect. 255(2), sect. 255(3) [para. 16]; sect. 255(4) [para. 17]; sect. 665 [para. 20].

Counsel:

Bernard Coffey, for the Crown;

Wayne Dymond, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on September 18, 1991, before L.D. Barry, J., of the New­foundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, who delivered the following judgment on November 4, 1991.

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