R. v. Doiron (M.), (2011) 385 N.B.R.(2d) 209 (PC)

• Judge: LeBlanc, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: December 12, 2011
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2011), 385 N.B.R.(2d) 209 (PC);2011 NBPC 36

R. v. Doiron (M.) (2011), 385 N.B.R.(2d) 209 (PC);

    385 R.N.-B.(2e) 209; 997 A.P.R. 209

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

.........................

Temp. Cite: [2011] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. DE.021

Renvoi temp.: [2011] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. DE.021

Her Majesty the Queen v. Maurice Doiron

(04272011; 2011 NBPC 36; 2011 NBCP 36)

Indexed As: R. v. Doiron (M.)

Répertorié: R. v. Doiron (M.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

LeBlanc, P.C.J.

December 12, 2011.

Summary:

Résumé:

The accused was charged with driving while having an excessive blood-alcohol level. Defence counsel moved for an order to compel the prosecution to translate documents and evidence from the French language to the English language

The New Brunswick Provincial Court dismissed the motion.

Civil Rights - Topic 2706

Language - General principles - Institution of the legislature and government of New Brunswick - [See Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 2950

Language - Criminal proceedings - Documentary evidence - An accused moved for an order to compel the prosecution to translate documents and evidence from the French language to the English language - The accused spoke French - However, he had hired a unilingual Anglophone lawyer (Maxwell) to represent him - Maxwell asserted that because the state had refused to furnish an officially translated version of six pages of documents written by the police in the language chosen by his client at the time of his communication with them, there had been a failure by the state to comply with the principles of fundamental justice, and more particularly the right to make full answer and defence - The New Brunswick Provincial Court dismissed the motion - The principles of fundamental justice did not have such a far-reaching and all-encompassing scope - Maxwell was required to prove on a balance of probabilities that the Crown's failure to provide the translation to the defence has impaired the accused's ability to make full answer and defence - He had failed to do so.

Civil Rights - Topic 3133

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings - Right of accused to make full answer and defence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 2706

Langue - Principes généraux - Institution de la législature et du gouvernement du Nouveau- Brunswick - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 2706 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 2950

Langue - Affaires criminelles - Preuve documentaire - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 3133

Procès - Application régulière de la loi, justice fondamentale et audiences équitables - Affaires criminelles et quasi-criminelles - Droit de l'accusé de présenter une défense pleine et entière - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 3133 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Butler (S.) (1997), 255 N.B.R.(2d) 289; 668 A.P.R. 289 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Frenette (M.) (2007), 322 N.B.R.(2d) 389; 829 A.P.R. 389; 2007 NBPC 33, folld. [para. 6].

Chiarelli v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 711; 135 N.R. 161, refd to. [para. 9].

Reference re s. 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Lyons, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309; 80 N.R. 161; 82 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 207 A.P.R. 271, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Bitternose (Q.L.) (2009), 331 Sask.R. 19; 460 W.A.C. 19; 2009 SKCA 54, refd to. [para. 13].

Counsel:

Avocats:

P.J. Veniot, Q.C., for the Attorney-General of New Brunswick;

Wendell Maxwell, Q.C., for the accused.

This motion was heard by LeBlanc, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on December 12, 2011.