R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, (1983) 48 A.R. 48 (NWTSC)

Judgede Weerdt, J.
CourtSupreme Court of Northwest Territories (Canada)
Case DateSeptember 19, 1983
JurisdictionNorthwest Territories
Citations(1983), 48 A.R. 48 (NWTSC)

R. v. Dennis (1983), 48 A.R. 48 (NWTSC)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank

(SC 2573)

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

Northwest Territories Supreme Court

de Weerdt, J.

September 19, 1983.

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. 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 an infringement or denial of their rights under ss. 11(a) and (b) of the Charter. The Northwest Territories Supreme Court allowed the application and quashed the indictment.

Civil Rights - Topic 3265

Trials, due process and fair hearings - Speedy trial - Accused's right to - What constitutes "within a reasonable time" - Three accused charged with committing a breach of trust contrary to s. 111 of the Criminal Code 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 Supreme Court quashed the information, holding that the accused's right to be tried within a reasonable time under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms had been denied - See paragraphs 17 to 35.

Civil Rights - Topic 3265

Trials, due process and fair hearings - Speedy trial - Accused's right to - What constitutes "within a reasonable time" - The Northwest Territories Supreme Court held that a delay, for the purpose of determining whether a delay was unreasonable under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was the time between the date the information was laid and the trial date, after deducting any period of delay to which the accused consented - See paragraph 39.

Civil Rights - Topic 8405

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Criminal proceedings - Right to be informed without unreasonable delay of specific offence - Three accused were charged that they "did commit a breach of trust in connection with their duties of office, contrary to s. 111 of the Criminal Code of Canada" - The alleged breach of trust was insufficiently particularized to allow the preparation of a proper defence - The Northwest Territories Supreme Court held that the information was invalid, because it denied the accuseds' right to be informed of the specific offence under s. 11(a) of the Charter - See paragraphs 36 to 51.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Chew, [1968] 2 C.C.C. 127; 1 O.R. 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

United States of America v. Sheppard, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 1067; 9 N.R. 215; 30 C.C.C.(2d) 424; 34 C.R.N.S. 207, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Pope (1978), 45 C.C.C.(2d) 348; 9 B.C.L.R. 123 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Amos (1982), 8 W.C.B. 183, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Adduono, [1940] 1 D.L.R. 597; 73 C.C.C. 152 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

Brodie et al. v. The King, [1936] S.C.R. 188; 65 C.C.C. 289, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Rourke, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 1021; [1977] 5 W.W.R. 487; 16 N.R. 181; 38 C.R.N.S. 268; 76 D.L.R.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Panarctic Oils Limited (1982), 38 A.R. 447; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 393; 141 D.L.R.(3d) 138; 2 C.R.R. 358, dist. [para. 38].

Barker v. Wingo (1972), 407 U.S. 514, folld. [para. 39].

Balderstone v. A.G. of Manitoba, [1983] 1 W.W.R. 72; 19 Man.R.(2d) 321 (Man. Q.B.), consd. [para. 47].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 11 [para. 1]; sect. 24(1) [para. 2].

Constitution Act, 1982, sect. 52 [para. 29].

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 510(3), sect. 510(6), sect. 512 [para. 34].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Ewaschuk, Criminal Pleadings and Practice in Canada, pp. 169, 203 [para. 33].

Counsel:

L.W. Zatlyn, for Wayne Dennis;

G.J. Clark, for Anthony J. Frank;

M. Tevlin, for Rose Mary Kubin;

Ivan Whitehall, Q.C., for the Crown.

This case was heard on September 12, 13 and 14, 1983, at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, before de Weerdt, J., of the Northwest Territories Supreme Court, who delivered the following judgment on September 19, 1983.

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5 practice notes
  • R. v. Oshaweetok, (1984) 57 A.R. 384 (NWTSC)
    • Canada
    • Northwest Territories Supreme Court of Northwest Territories (Canada)
    • 30 de outubro de 1984
    ...738; 7 Sask.R. 9 (Q.B.), refd. to. [para. 25]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, [1983] N.W.T.R. 235; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411; 4 D.L.R.(4d) 131; 48 A.R. 48 (S.C.); affd.[1983] N.W.T.R. 239; 55 A.R. 366; 8 C.C.C. 414; 4 D.L.R.(4d) 134 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd. to. [para. Re Bruneau and The Queen (1982), 69 ......
  • R. v. Kenny (D.), (1991) 89 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (NFTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 22 de março de 1991
    ...consd. [para. 23]. R. v. Coté, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 8; 13 N.R 271; 40 C.R.N.S. 308, refd to. [para. 23]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1983), 48 A.R. 48; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411 (N.W.T. S.C.), affd. 55 A.R. 366; 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527 (N.W.T.C.A.), consd. [para. R. v. Lucas (1983), 57 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 120 A......
  • R. v. Russell (P.), (1997) 150 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 261 (NFTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 18 de março de 1997
    ...50]. R. v. Lucas (1983), 57 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 120 A.P.R. 159; 6 C.C.C.(3d) 147 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1983), 48 A.R. 48; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411 (N.W.T.S.C.), refd to. [para. Myhren v. R. (1985), 48 C.R.(3d) 270 (N.W.T.S.C.), refd to. [para. 53]. R. v. Smith (196......
  • R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, (1984) 55 A.R. 366 (NWTCA)
    • Canada
    • Northwest Territories Court of Appeal (Northwest Territories)
    • 25 de outubro de 1984
    ...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 The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal held that it had jurisdiction under s.......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
5 cases
  • R. v. Oshaweetok, (1984) 57 A.R. 384 (NWTSC)
    • Canada
    • Northwest Territories Supreme Court of Northwest Territories (Canada)
    • 30 de outubro de 1984
    ...738; 7 Sask.R. 9 (Q.B.), refd. to. [para. 25]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, [1983] N.W.T.R. 235; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411; 4 D.L.R.(4d) 131; 48 A.R. 48 (S.C.); affd.[1983] N.W.T.R. 239; 55 A.R. 366; 8 C.C.C. 414; 4 D.L.R.(4d) 134 (N.W.T.C.A.), refd. to. [para. Re Bruneau and The Queen (1982), 69 ......
  • R. v. Kenny (D.), (1991) 89 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (NFTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 22 de março de 1991
    ...consd. [para. 23]. R. v. Coté, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 8; 13 N.R 271; 40 C.R.N.S. 308, refd to. [para. 23]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1983), 48 A.R. 48; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411 (N.W.T. S.C.), affd. 55 A.R. 366; 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527 (N.W.T.C.A.), consd. [para. R. v. Lucas (1983), 57 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 120 A......
  • R. v. Russell (P.), (1997) 150 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 261 (NFTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 18 de março de 1997
    ...50]. R. v. Lucas (1983), 57 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 120 A.P.R. 159; 6 C.C.C.(3d) 147 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52]. R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1983), 48 A.R. 48; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411 (N.W.T.S.C.), refd to. [para. Myhren v. R. (1985), 48 C.R.(3d) 270 (N.W.T.S.C.), refd to. [para. 53]. R. v. Smith (196......
  • R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank, (1984) 55 A.R. 366 (NWTCA)
    • Canada
    • Northwest Territories Court of Appeal (Northwest Territories)
    • 25 de outubro de 1984
    ...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 The Northwest Territories Court of Appeal held that it had jurisdiction under s.......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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