R. v. Collins (R.), (1999) 99 O.T.C. 372 (SC)

• Judge: Whalen, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: June 14, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: (1999), 99 O.T.C. 372 (SC)

R. v. Collins (R.) (1999), 99 O.T.C. 372 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] O.T.C. TBEd. JL.130

Her Majesty the Queen v. Ralph Collins

(No. 18324/98)

Indexed As: R. v. Collins (R.)

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Algoma

Whalen, J.

June 14, 1999.

Summary:

Collins was charged with criminal negligence causing death (s. 220, Criminal Code) in that he discharged a firearm with reckless disregard for the lives of others. An issue arose as to whether the offence of careless use of a firearm (s. 86(2), Criminal Code) was a lesser and included offence in the offence of criminal negligence causing death and whether the jury could be instructed accordingly.

The Ontario Superior Court held that careless use of a firearm was a lesser and included offence in the offence of criminal negligence causing death and that the jury could be instructed accordingly.

Criminal Law - Topic 4355

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding included offences - See paragraphs 1 to 38.

Criminal Law - Topic 4466

Procedure - Verdicts - Included offences - Inclusion in criminal negligence causing death - See paragraphs 1 to 38.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Jackson and Davy (1991), 51 O.A.C. 92; 68 C.C.C.(3d) 385 (C.A.), affd. [1993] 4 S.C.R. 573; 162 N.R. 113; 68 O.A.C. 161; 86 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 109 D.L.R.(4th) 318; 26 C.R.(4th) 178, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Morehouse (1982), 38 N.B.R.(2d) 367; 100 A.P.R. 367; 65 C.C.C.(2d) 231 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused 42 N.R. 173; 40 N.B.R.(2d) 90; 105 A.P.R. 90; 65 C.C.C.(2d) 231 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Simpson (No. 2) (1981), 58 C.C.C.(2d) 122 (Ont. C.A.), consd. [para. 12].

R. v. Waite (1986), 15 O.A.C. 215; 28 C.C.C.(3d) 326 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Sharp (1984), 3 O.A.C. 26; 12 C.C.C.(3d) 428 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Nelson (1990), 38 O.A.C. 17; 75 C.R.(3d) 70 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Cabral (1990), 38 O.A.C. 67; 54 C.C.C.(3d) 317 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Gosset, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 76; 157 N.R. 195; 57 Q.A.C. 130; 105 D.L.R.(4th) 681; 83 C.C.C.(3d) 494; 23 C.R.(4th) 280; 17 C.R.R.(2d) 77, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Finlay, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 103; 156 N.R. 374; 113 Sask.R. 241; 52 W.A.C. 241; 105 D.L.R.(4th) 699; [1993] 7 W.W.R. 513; 83 C.C.C.(3d) 513; 23 C.R.(4th) 321; 17 C.R.R.(2d) 46, refd to. [para. 16].

Milot v. Mayrand, [1956] B.R. 257 (Que. C.A.), consd. [para. 27].

R. v. Krug, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 255; 62 N.R. 263; 11 O.A.C. 187; 21 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Langevin (1979), 47 C.C.C.(2d) 138; 10 C.R.(3d) 193 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 86(1) [para. 5]; sect. 86(2) [para. 6]; sect. 86(3) [para. 5]; sect. 662(1) [para. 8].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Martin's Criminal Code of Canada, Judicial Edition (1999), p. C.C. 138 [para. 31].

Counsel:

N. Komsa, for the Crown;

B. Willson, for the accused.

This matter was heard by Whalen, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who released the following oral decision on June 14, 1999.