R. v. Dickson (J.) et al., (1996) 22 O.T.C. 169 (GD)

• Judge: Salhany, J.
• Court: Ontario Court of Justice General Division (Canada)
• Case Date: December 06, 1996
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: (1996), 22 O.T.C. 169 (GD)

R. v. Dickson (J.) (1996), 22 O.T.C. 169 (GD)

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen (respondent) v. John Dickson, Michael Saunders, Steven Wilson, Michael Desantis and Janice Desantis (applicants)

(CJ No. 3868)

Indexed As: R. v. Dickson (J.) et al.

Ontario Court of Justice

General Division

Central South Region

Salhany, J.

December 6, 1996.

Summary:

Saunders and Dickson were charged with trafficking and conspiracy. Three others were also charged with conspiracy. Saunders applied for: 1) an order severing the two substantive charges alleging trafficking from the conspiracy charge; 2) an order severing the accused Dickson from the conspiracy charge; 3) an order for particulars of the conspiracy indictment; and 4) an order declaring that the evidence obtained pursuant to two authorizations to intercept private communications be excluded as an unreasonable search and seizure.

The Ontario Court (General Division) ordered particulars of the conspiracy indictment but otherwise dismissed the application.

Civil Rights - Topic 1373

Security of the person - Police surveillance - Interception of private communications - See paragraphs 34 to 47.

Criminal Law - Topic 2677

Attempts, conspiracies, accessories and parties - Conspiracies - Separate trials for co-conspirators - See paragraphs 13 to 21.

Criminal Law - Topic 4529

Procedure - Particulars - Sufficiency of - See paragraphs 22 to 33.

Criminal Law - Topic 4730

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Form and content - See paragraphs 22 to 33.

Criminal Law - Topic 4737.1

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Severing counts in an indictment - See paragraphs 3 to 12.

Criminal Law - Topic 5209

Evidence and witnesses - Admissibility and relevancy - Prejudicial evidence - See paragraphs 18 to 20.

Criminal Law - Topic 5214.9

Evidence and witnesses - Admissibility and relevancy - Voir dire - See paragraphs 18 to 20.

Criminal Law - Topic 5274

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications - Application for - See paragraphs 34 to 47.

Criminal Law - Topic 5274.4

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications - Application for - Requirement of investigative necessity - See paragraphs 34 to 42.

Criminal Law - Topic 5274.5

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications - Application for - Evidence in support - See paragraphs 41, 42.

Evidence - Topic 1026

Relevant facts, relevance and materiality - Admissibility - Prejudicial evidence - See paragraphs 18 to 20.

Evidence - Topic 1527

Hearsay rule - Hearsay rule exceptions and exclusions - General - Where admission of hearsay necessary and evidence reliable - See paragraphs 14 to 21.

Evidence - Topic 1540

Hearsay rule - Hearsay rule exceptions and exclusions - General - Procedure - Voir dire - See paragraphs 18 to 20.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Carter, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 938; 47 N.R. 288; 46 N.B.R.(2d) 142; 121 A.P.R. 142; 31 C.R.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Jefferson, [1972] 6 C.C.C.(2d) 33 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Kelly, [1967] 1 C.C.C.(2d) 215 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Hayes (1942), 77 C.C.C. 195 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Griffiths (1966), 49 Cr. App. R. 279 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Jones (John) et al. (1974), 59 Cr. App. R. 120 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. McNamara (No. 1) (1981), 56 C.C.C.(2d) 193 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Grondkowski; R. v. Malinowski (1946), 31 Cr. App. R. 116 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Novak (1976), 65 Cr. App. R. 107 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Khan, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 531; 113 N.R. 53; 41 O.A.C. 353; 59 C.C.C.(3d) 92; 79 C.R.(3d) 1, consd. [para. 14].

R. v. Smith (A.L.), [1992] 2 S.C.R. 915; 139 N.R. 323; 55 O.A.C. 321; 75 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 94 D.L.R.(4th) 590; 15 C.R.(4th) 133, consd. [para. 14].

R. v. K.G.B., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 740; 148 N.R. 241; 61 O.A.C. 1; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 19 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Hawkins (K.R.) and Morin (C.) (1996), 204 N.R. 241; 96 O.A.C. 81 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 15].

R. v. Wilson (1911), 21 C.C.C. 105 (Alta. C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Moore, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1097; 85 N.R. 195; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Buck (1932), 57 C.C.C. 290 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Thatcher (1984), 37 Sask.R. 118; 42 C.R.(3d) 259 (Q.B.), affd. [1987] 1 S.C.R. 652; 75 N.R. 198; 57 Sask.R. 113; 32 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Douglas and Douris, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 301; 122 N.R. 1; 47 O.A.C. 1; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 29, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Finlay and Grellette (1985), 11 O.A.C. 279; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 48 (C.A.), consd. [para. 36].

R. v. Smyk (K.W.) et al. (1994), 88 Man.R.(2d) 303; 51 W.A.C. 303; 86 C.C.C.(3d) 63 (C.A.), consd. [para. 38].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 186(1) [para. 35]; sect. 591(3)(b) [para. 13].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Goode, Criminal Conspiracy in Canada (1975), pp. 251, 252, 253 [para. 19].

Williams, Glanville, Criminal Law - The General Part (2nd Ed. 1961), p. 218 [para. 6].

Williams, Glanville, The Proof of Guilt (3rd Ed. 1963), p. 277 [para. 6].

Counsel:

G. Taylor, for the Crown;

H. Mattson, for Michael Saunders.

This application was heard by Salhany, J., of the Ontario Court (General Division), who released the following judgment on December 6, 1996.