R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, (1984) 55 A.R. 366 (NWTCA)

JudgeLieberman, Moir and McClung, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (Northwest Territories)
Case DateOctober 25, 1984
JurisdictionNorthwest Territories
Citations(1984), 55 A.R. 366 (NWTCA)

R. v. Dennis (1984), 55 A.R. 366 (NWTCA)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank

(Appeal No. NWT. #493)

Indexed As: R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank

Northwest Territories Court of Appeal

Lieberman, Moir and McClung, JJ.A.

October 25, 1984.

Summary:

The accused were jointly charged in April 1981 with committing a breach of trust in connection with their official duties, contrary to s. 111 of the Criminal Code of Canada. The trial date was set for September 1983. The accused applied for relief under s. 24 (1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, alleging a denial of their rights under ss. 11(a) and (b) of the Charter.

The Northwest Territories Supreme Court, in a judgment reported (1984), 48 A.R. 48, allowed the application and quashed the indictment. The Crown appealed.

The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal held that it had jurisdiction under s. 605(1)(a) of the Code to hear the appeal, because the quashing of the indictment constituted a judgment or acquittal. However, the court dismissed the appeal, affirming that the accuseds' Charter rights were denied.

Civil Rights - Topic 3265

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Speedy trial - Accused's right to - "Within a reasonable time" - What constitutes - Three accused charged with committing a breach of trust contrary to s. 111 of the Criminal Code of Canada were committed to stand trial 17 months after the information was laid - The accused suffered acute physical, mental, social and economic hardship as a result of the delay - The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal affirmed the quashing of the indictment on the ground that the accused's right to be tried within a reasonable time under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was denied - See paragraphs 4 to 18.

Civil Rights - Topic 3265

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Speedy trial - Accused's right to - "Within a reasonable time" - What constitutes - The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal stated that except in unusual cases "the answer or defence of culpable Charter delay should only be assessed in the actual trial setting as the case goes in and a real view of its impact can be had" - See paragraph 17.

Criminal Law - Topic 10.4

Definitions - Acquittal defined - After an accused was committed to stand trial a Northwest Territories Supreme Court judge quashed the indictment for, inter alia, a denial of the accused's right to a speedy trial under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal stated that the quashing constituted a judgment or acquittal for the purposes of giving the court jurisdiction to hear an appeal under s. 605(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada, because there was no prerogative review of decisions of the Supreme Court, relaying an information would be an abuse of process and it was important to preserve some avenue of appellate review - See paragraphs 4 to 12.

Criminal Law - Topic 4826

Appeals - Indictable offences - Right of appeal - Requirement of decision on merits at trial - After an accused was committed to stand trial a Northwest Territories Supreme Court judge quashed the indictment for, inter alia, a denial of the accused's right to a speedy trial under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal stated that the quashing constituted a judgment or acquittal for the purposes of giving the court jurisdiction to hear an appeal under s. 605(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada, because there was no prerogative review of decisions of the Supreme Court, relaying an information would be an abuse of process and it was important to preserve some avenue of appellate review - See paragraphs 4 to 12.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Toker and Mckinney (1984), 54 A.R. 97 (Alta. C.A.), dist. [para. 6].

Lattoni and Corbo v. R., [1958] S.C.R. 603, ref'd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Sheets, [1971] 1 C.C.C.(2d) 508 (S.C.C.), folld. [para. 9].

R. v. Beason (1983), 7 C.C.C.(3d) 201; 36 C.R.(3d) 73 (Ont. C.A.), ref'd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Belton (1983), 19 Man.R.(2d) 132; 31 C.R.(3d) 223 (Man. C.A.), leave to appeal refused 47 N.R. 159; 31 C.R.(3d) xxv, ref'd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Jewitt, [1984] 4 W.W.R. 381; 34 C.R.(3d) 193 (B.C.C.A.), leave to appeal refused 51 N.R. 399; 35 C.R.(3d) xxviii, ref'd to. [para. 10].

Balderstone v. R. and Attorney General of Manitoba, [1983] 1 W.W.R. 72; 19 Man.R.(2d) 321, ref'd to. [para. 15].

Barker v. Wingo (1972), 407 U.S. 530, ref'd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Antoine (1983), 34 C.R.(3d) 136 (Ont. C.A.), ref'd to. [para. 15].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 11(a), sect. 11(b) [para. 2].

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 602, sect. 605(1)(a) [para. 5].

Counsel:

I.G. Whitehall, Q.C., and David Gates, for the appellant/Crown;

L.J. Zatlyn, for the respondent, Dennis;

A.P. Pantages and D. Murray Tevlin, for the respondent, Kubin;

No one appearing for the respondent, Frank.

This appeal was heard before Lieberman, Moir, and McClung, JJ.A., of the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal.

On October 25, 1984, McClung, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the Court of Appeal.

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13 practice notes
  • R. v. Pringle (J.D.), 2003 ABPC 7
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 7 Febrero 2003
    ...13 C.C.C.(3d) 269; [1984] 5 W.W.R. 577; 56 B.C.L.R. 247; R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205; 55 A.R. 366 (C.A.); and R. v. Phillips ; R. v. Reid (1986), 26 C.C.C.(3d) 60; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 689; 44 Alta. L.R.(2d) 190 (C.A.). " In this case the length, fe......
  • R. v. R.L.F., (2005) 373 A.R. 114 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 7 Diciembre 2004
    ...13 C.C.C.(3d) 269; [1984] 5 W.W.R. 577; 56 B.C.L.R. 247; R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205; 55 A.R. 366 (C.A.); and R. v. Phillips; R. v. Reid (1986), 26 C.C.C.(3d) 60; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 689; 44 Alta. L.R.(2d) 190 (C.A.). 'In this case the length, feat......
  • R. v. Askov, Hussey, Melo and Gugliotta, (1990) 113 N.R. 241 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 18 Octubre 1990
    ...refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Heaslip (1983), 1 O.A.C. 81; 9 C.C.C.(3d) 480 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 55 A.R. 366; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Belton (1982), 3 C.C.C.(3d) 427 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Perry (1984......
  • R. v. Askov, Hussey, Melo and Gugliotta, (1990) 42 O.A.C. 81 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 18 Octubre 1990
    ...refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Heaslip (1983), 1 O.A.C. 81; 9 C.C.C.(3d) 480 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 55 A.R. 366; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Belton (1982), 3 C.C.C.(3d) 427 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Perry (1984......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
13 cases
  • R. v. Pringle (J.D.), 2003 ABPC 7
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 7 Febrero 2003
    ...13 C.C.C.(3d) 269; [1984] 5 W.W.R. 577; 56 B.C.L.R. 247; R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205; 55 A.R. 366 (C.A.); and R. v. Phillips ; R. v. Reid (1986), 26 C.C.C.(3d) 60; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 689; 44 Alta. L.R.(2d) 190 (C.A.). " In this case the length, fe......
  • R. v. R.L.F., (2005) 373 A.R. 114 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 7 Diciembre 2004
    ...13 C.C.C.(3d) 269; [1984] 5 W.W.R. 577; 56 B.C.L.R. 247; R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205; 55 A.R. 366 (C.A.); and R. v. Phillips; R. v. Reid (1986), 26 C.C.C.(3d) 60; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 689; 44 Alta. L.R.(2d) 190 (C.A.). 'In this case the length, feat......
  • R. v. Askov, Hussey, Melo and Gugliotta, (1990) 113 N.R. 241 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 18 Octubre 1990
    ...refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Heaslip (1983), 1 O.A.C. 81; 9 C.C.C.(3d) 480 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 55 A.R. 366; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Belton (1982), 3 C.C.C.(3d) 427 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Perry (1984......
  • R. v. Askov, Hussey, Melo and Gugliotta, (1990) 42 O.A.C. 81 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 18 Octubre 1990
    ...refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Heaslip (1983), 1 O.A.C. 81; 9 C.C.C.(3d) 480 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1984), 55 A.R. 366; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 205 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Belton (1982), 3 C.C.C.(3d) 427 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Perry (1984......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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