R. v. D.S.H. and J.D.N., (1993) 28 B.C.A.C. 129 (CA)

• Judge: Seaton, Macfarlane and Cumming, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: April 29, 1993
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1993), 28 B.C.A.C. 129 (CA)

R. v. D.S.H. (1993), 28 B.C.A.C. 129 (CA);

    47 W.A.C. 129

MLB headnote and full text

Regina (appellant) v. D.S.H. and J.D.N. (respondents)

(V01665; V01666)

Indexed As: R. v. D.S.H. and J.D.N.

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Seaton, Macfarlane and Cumming, JJ.A.

June 2, 1993.

Summary:

Two young offenders were acquitted in Youth Court of second degree murder. The Crown appealed from the acquittal.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal, Seaton, J.A., dissenting, allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial.

Criminal Law - Topic 4957

Appeals - Indictable offences - New trials - Grounds - Misapprehension of evidence - At a second degree murder trial the trial judge focused on one witness' evidence to the exclusion of all other evidence - The British Columbia Court of Appeal ordered a new trial on the ground that the trial judge failed to consider the whole of the evidence and thus misapplied the principle of reasonable doubt - See paragraphs 16 to 17, 30 to 35.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. G.B. et al. (No. 3), [1990] 2 S.C.R. 57; 111 N.R. 62; 86 Sask.R. 142; 77 C.R.(3d) 370; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 181, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Morin (K.M.), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 286; 142 N.R. 141; 131 A.R. 81; 25 W.A.C. 81; 76 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 13].

Sparrow v. R. (1979), 12 C.R.(3d) 158 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Isaac (1984), 51 N.R. 308; 9 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Thatcher, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 652; 75 N.R. 198; 57 Sask.R. 113; [1987] 4 W.W.R. 193; 57 C.R.(3d) 97; 32 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 36].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 21 [paras. 15, 33]; sect. 676(1)(a) [para. 12].

Young Offenders Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. Y-1, sect. 27(1) [para. 11].

Counsel:

D. Ryneveld, Q.C., for the appellant;

S. Guenther, for the respondent, D.S.H.;

D.J. Marion, for the respondent, J.D.N.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 29, 1993, before Seaton, Macfarlane and Cumming, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered on June 2, 1993 and the following opinions were filed:

Macfarlane, J.A. (Cumming, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 1 to 37;

Seaton, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 38 to 45.