R. v. Egan (E.C.), (1996) 185 N.B.R.(2d) 249 (PC)

JudgeHarper, P.C.J.
CourtProvincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
Case DateDecember 23, 1996
JurisdictionNew Brunswick
Citations(1996), 185 N.B.R.(2d) 249 (PC)

R. v. Egan (E.C.) (1996), 185 N.B.R.(2d) 249 (PC);

    185 R.N.-B.(2e) 249; 472 A.P.R. 249

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

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

Her Majesty the Queen (on the information of Constable D.J. Ward, informant) v. Eugene Cyril Egan (accused)

Indexed As: R. v. Egan (E.C.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Harper, P.C.J.

December 23, 1996.

Summary:

An RCMP constable stopped Egan's car, believing it was unsafe to drive. The consta­ble's observations led him to believe that the vehicle contained contraband. Egan was read the Charter notice. He stated that he would call a lawyer. The constable continued to question him. Egan admitted that he had liquor, cigarettes and canned tobacco, pur­chased in Montreal. The constable told Egan that he had solid grounds to apply to a judge for a search warrant, whereafter Egan agreed to sign a "Consent to Search". While Egan spoke to a lawyer, the constable searched his vehicle. Egan was charged with violations of the Excise Act.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court held the search was illegal and excluded the evidence under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1645

Property - Search and seizure - Consent to search - An RCMP constable stopped Egan's car, believing it was unsafe to drive - The constable's observations led him to believe that the vehicle contained contra­band - Egan was read the Charter notice - He stated that he would call a lawyer - The constable continued to question him - Egan admitted that he had liquor, ciga­rettes and canned tobacco, purchased in Montreal - The constable told Egan that he had solid grounds to apply to a judge for a search warrant, whereafter Egan agreed to sign a "Consent to Search" - While Egan spoke to a lawyer, the con­stable searched his vehicle - The New Brunswick Provincial Court held that the search was illegal and excluded the evi­dence under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unrea­sonable search and seizure defined - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1651

Property - Search and seizure - Warrantless search and seizure - Motor vehicles - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4602

Right to counsel - Denial of - Evidence taken inadmissible - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4605.1

Right to counsel - Denial of - Effect on reasonableness of search - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Harrison (G.M.) (1993), 134 N.B.R.(2d) 160; 342 A.P.R. 160 (Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Jacques (J.R.) and Mitchell (M.M.) (1993), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 64; 366 A.P.R. 64 (Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Jacques (J.R.) and Mitchell (M.M.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 312; 202 N.R. 49; 180 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 458 A.P.R. 161 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Mellenthin, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 615; 144 N.R. 50; 135 A.R. 1; 33 W.A.C. 1; 76 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 16 C.R.(4th) 273, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Montour (T.S.) and Longboat (S.B.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 416; 182 N.R. 154; 163 N.B.R.(2d) 158; 419 A.P.R. 158, consd. [para. 17].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Hufsky, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 621; 84 N.R. 365; 27 O.A.C. 103; 40 C.C.C.(3d) 398; 63 C.R.(3d) 14; 4 M.V.R.(2d) 170; 32 C.R.R. 193, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Ladouceur, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1257; 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1; 77 C.R.(3d) 110; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 22; 21 M.V.R.(2d) 165, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Simmons, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 495; 89 N.R. 1; 30 O.A.C. 241; 66 C.R.(3d) 297; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 296; 38 C.R.R. 252; 18 C.E.R. 227; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 673, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Burlingham (T.W.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 206; 181 N.R. 1; 58 B.C.A.C. 161; 96 W.A.C. 161; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 7; 38 C.R.(4th) 265; 28 C.R.R.(2d) 244, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Morin, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 345; 88 N.R. 161; 30 O.A.C. 81; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 66 C.R.(3d) 1, consd. [para. 17].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 56 C.R.(3d) 193; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 699; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 508; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207; 1 C.R.(4th) 62; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 193; 51 B.C.L.R.(2d) 157; 50 C.R.R. 285, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Wills (1992), 52 O.A.C. 321; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 529; 7 O.R.(3d) 337; 12 C.R.(4th) 58; 9 C.R.R.(2d) 360; 34 M.V.R.(2d) 296 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Dedman, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 2; 60 N.R. 34; 11 O.A.C. 241; 46 C.R.(3d) 193; 20 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 34 M.V.R. 1, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Morrison (1985), 20 C.C.C.(3d) 180 (Ont. H.C.), dist. [para. 44].

Cloutier v. Langlois and Bédard, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 158; 105 N.R. 241; 30 Q.A.C. 241; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 257, dist. [para. 44].

Counsel:

None disclosed.

This case was heard by Harper, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on Decem­ber 23, 1996.

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