R. v. Czarnecki (S.), (1999) 139 Man.R.(2d) 157 (QB)

• Judge: Morse, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
• Case Date: May 19, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Manitoba
• Citations: (1999), 139 Man.R.(2d) 157 (QB)

R. v. Czarnecki (S.) (1999), 139 Man.R.(2d) 157 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] Man.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.010

Her Majesty The Queen v. Slawoj Czarnecki (accused)

(CR 99-01-20332)

Indexed As: R. v. Czarnecki (S.)

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Winnipeg Centre

Morse, J.

May 19, 1999.

Summary:

The accused was charged in a multi-count indictment with, inter alia, discharging a firearm with intent to endanger the life of a co-worker. He moved to quash the count.

The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench allowed the motion and quashed the count.

Criminal Law - Topic 34

General principles - Mens rea or intention - Recklessness - The accused was charged in a multi-count indictment with, inter alia, discharging a firearm with intent to endan­ger the life of a co-worker, contrary to s. 244(b) of the Criminal Code - He moved to quash the count - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench allowed the motion and quashed the count - Section 244(b) was an offence of specific intent and the mens rea required by the offence did not encompass recklessness, but was limited to proof that the accused intended the consequence of endangering the life of the complainant.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lafontaine (1979), 9 C.R.(3d) 263 (Que. S.C.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Swietlinski (1978), 44 C.C.C.(2d) 267 (Ont. C.A.), affd. (1980), 34 N.R. 569; 55 C.C.C.(2d) 481 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 9].

Director of Public Prosecutions v. Majew­ski, [1977] A.C. 443 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Burkholder (1977), 2 A.R. 119; 34 C.C.C.(2d) 21 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 244(b) [para. 7].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Colvin, Eric, Principles of Criminal Law (1986), pp. 44, 45, 89, 90 [para. 12].

Mewett and Manning, Criminal Law (3rd Ed. 1994), pp. 173 [para. 11]; 190 [para. 12].

Stuart, Don, Canadian Criminal Law: A Treatise (1982), p. 132 [para. 8].

Counsel:

Peter Murdock, for the Crown;

Kenneth M. McCaffrey, for the accused.

This motion was heard before Morse, J., of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Winnipeg Centre, who delivered the follow­ing judgment on May 19, 1999.