R. v. Edwards (O.E.), 2004 ABPC 14

• Judge: Allen, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: January 30, 2004
• Citations: 2004 ABPC 14;(2004), 352 A.R. 141 (PC)

R. v. Edwards (O.E.) (2004), 352 A.R. 141 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2004] A.R. TBEd. FE.069

Her Majesty the Queen v. Osmond Errol Edwards and Desmond Martin Edwards

(017111592P101001, 02001; 2004 ABPC 14)

Indexed As: R. v. Edwards (O.E.) et al.

Alberta Provincial Court

Allen, P.C.J.

January 30, 2004.

Summary:

The accused were charged with causing a disturbance by shouting.

The Alberta Provincial Court convicted the accused.

Criminal Law - Topic 434

Offences against the administration of law and justice - Disobedience and obstruction - Obstruction and resistance of peace officer in execution of his duty - The two accused drove to a local bar and parked their vehicle on a city street - When they returned, the police were investigating a homicide where a body had been located - The accused's vehicle was parked in the crime scene area, which had been taped off - Officers were posted to prevent access to the area - The accused demanded access to their vehicle, shouted obscenities at the police and yelled - A crowd gathered and watched - Some egged the accused on - One accused went into the street and interfered with traffic - The Alberta Provincial Court held that the accused distracted the police from other work and this alone amounted to causing a disturbance - Alternatively, disruption combined with police observations of the crowd's conduct proved that a disturbance was caused.

Police - Topic 3112

Powers - Investigation - Power to prevent access to crime scene area - The two accused drove to a local bar and parked their vehicle on a city street - When they returned, the police were investigating a homicide where a body had been located - The accused's vehicle was parked in the crime scene area, which had been taped off - Officers were posted to prevent access to the area - The accused demanded access to their vehicle, yelled and shouted obscenities at the police - The accused were charged with causing a disturbance by shouting - There was no express authority within the Police Act to allow the police specifically to exclude persons from crime scenes - The Alberta Provincial Court held that preventing the accused from intruding upon an area that might have contained incriminating evidence was a justifiable use of police powers associated with investigating the murder - See paragraphs 1 to 48.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lohnes, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 167; 132 N.R. 297; 109 N.S.R.(2d) 145; 297 A.P.R. 145; 69 C.C.C.(3d) 289, appld. [para. 1].

R. v. D.W. (1991), 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 397 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Simpson (R.) (1993), 60 O.A.C. 327; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 482 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Waterfield, [1963] 3 All E.R. 659 (C.A. Crim. Div.), appld. [para. 30].

R. v. Knowlton, [1974] S.C.R. 443, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Dedman (1985), 60 N.R. 34; 11 O.A.C. 241; 20 C.C.C.(3d) 97 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Williams (1986), 72 N.S.R.(2d) 364; 173 A.P.R. 364; 39 M.V.R. 153 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Kephart and Oliver (1988), 91 A.R. 321; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. L.S.L. (1991), 89 Sask.R. 267 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Ferris (T.L.) (1998), 108 B.C.A.C. 244; 176 W.A.C. 244; 126 C.C.C.(3d) 298 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 40].

R. v. Godoy (V.) (1998), 235 N.R. 134; 117 O.A.C. 127; 131 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (S.C.C.), affing. (1997), 100 O.A.C. 104; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 272 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Sanderson (D.W.) (2003), 170 O.A.C. 285; 174 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Johnsgaard (T.D.), [2003] A.R. Uned. 611 (Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 45].

R. v. Lifchus (W.) (1997), 216 N.R. 215; 118 Man.R.(2d) 218; 149 W.A.C. 218; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 49].

R. v. Swinimer (1978), 25 N.S.R.(2d) 512; 36 A.P.R. 512; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 432 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 59].

R. v. C.D. (1973), 6 N.B.R.(2d) 200; 13 C.C.C.(2d) 206 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 59].

R. v. Peters (1982), 65 C.C.C.(2d) 83 (B.C.C.A.), agreed with [para. 60].

R. v. Eyre (1972), 10 C.C.C.(2d) 236 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Chikoski (1973), 14 C.C.C.(2d) 38 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Whittaker (1978), 39 C.C.C.(2d) 118 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 73].

R. v. Lawrence (R.C.) (1992), 132 A.R. 194 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 79].

R. v. Terrigno (M.) (1995), 175 A.R. 100 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 80].

R. v. Moore (R.H.), [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. 478 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 82].

R. v. Greene (P.) (2000), 284 A.R. 169 (Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 84].

R. v. Daniel (S.J.) (2001), 287 A.R. 105 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 87].

R. v. Mudarth (M.B.) (2002), 312 A.R. 389; 281 W.A.C. 389 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 88].

Counsel:

L. VanDyke, for the Crown;

The accused represented themselves.

This case was heard by Allen, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on January 30, 2004.