R. v. Evans (D.J.), (2015) 367 B.C.A.C. 148 (CA)

JudgeChiasson, Frankel and Neilson, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (British Columbia)
Case DateJanuary 09, 2015
JurisdictionBritish Columbia
Citations(2015), 367 B.C.A.C. 148 (CA);2015 BCCA 46

R. v. Evans (D.J.) (2015), 367 B.C.A.C. 148 (CA);

    631 W.A.C. 148

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] B.C.A.C. TBEd. MR.056

Regina (respondent) v. Daniel John Evans (appellant)

(CA040979; 2015 BCCA 46)

Indexed As: R. v. Evans (D.J.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Chiasson, Frankel and Neilson, JJ.A.

February 10, 2015.

Summary:

The accused was convicted by a jury of aggravated assault for punching the victim. The sole issue at trial was self-defence. The accused appealed, arguing that the trial judge made two errors in instructing the jury: (1) in charging the jury on the self-defence provisions of the Criminal Code in force at the time of the events in issue, instead of the current provisions; and (2) in charging the jury respecting the accused defending himself against the victim only, instead of instructing the jury to consider whether he was defending himself against others who were present.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. The court held that the trial judge did not err in holding that the question of whether the accused committed a criminal offence was to be decided on the basis of the law of self-defence in effect when he punched the victim. Further, her instructions based on that law were appropriate.

Criminal Law - Topic 239

General principles - Statutory defences or exceptions - Self-defence - See paragraphs 14 to 44.

Criminal Law - Topic 1420

Offences against person and reputation - Assaults - Defence - Self-defence - See paragraphs 14 to 44.

Criminal Law - Topic 4370

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding self-defence - See paragraphs 36 to 44.

Statutes - Topic 6714

Operation and effect - Commencement, duration and repeal - Retrospective and retroactive enactments - Retrospective or retroactive operation - Criminal or penal legislation - See paragraphs 14 to 35.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Dineley (S.), [2012] 3 S.C.R. 272; 436 N.R. 59; 297 O.A.C. 50; 2012 SCC 58, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Richter (M.A.) (2014), 357 B.C.A.C. 305; 611 W.A.C. 305; 314 C.C.C.(3d) 543; 2014 BCCA 244, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Grandin (D.T.) (2001), 152 B.C.A.C. 228; 250 W.A.C. 228; 154 C.C.C.(3d) 408; 2001 BCCA 340, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Chubbs (G.A.) (2013), 341 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 346; 1061 A.P.R. 346; 2013 NLCA 60, refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Williams (T.M.), [2013] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1774; 2013 BCSC 1774, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Carriere (D.M.) (2013), 573 A.R. 250; 2013 ABQB 645, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Simon (J.M.) (2013), 558 A.R. 384; 2013 ABQB 303, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Patterson Jones, 213 QCCQ 6632, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Wang (Z.), 2013 ONCJ 220, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Dario (E.E.), [2014] B.C.T.C. Uned. 2099; 2014 BCSC 2099, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Pandurevic (M.), [2013] O.T.C. Uned. 2978; 298 C.C.C.(3d) 504; 2013 ONSC 2978, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Trudell, 2013 ONSC 6092, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Paskimin (L.A.) (2014), 440 Sask.R. 152; 2014 SKQB 78, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Hunter (E.Q.), [2013] Northwest Terr. Cases Uned. 79; 2013 NWTSC 79, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Parker 2013 ONCJ 195, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Sanderson (W.J.), [2013] Man.R.(2d) Uned. 36; 2013 MBQB 139, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Rothgordt (K.W.), [2014] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1215; 2014 BCSC 1215, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Kahnapace, 2014 BCSC 2410, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Urquhart, 2013 BCPC 184, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Kerr (J.R.), [2004] 2 S.C.R. 371; 322 N.R. 91; 354 A.R. 114; 329 W.A.C. 114; 2004 SCC 44, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Ryan (N.P.), [2013] 1 S.C.R. 14; 438 N.R. 80; 324 N.S.R.(2d) 205; 1029 A.P.R. 205; 2013 SCC 3, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Forster, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 339; 133 N.R. 333, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Perka, Nelson, Hines and Johnson, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 232; 55 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Pintar (J.) (1996), 93 O.A.C. 172; 110 C.C.C.(3d) 402 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Jaw (S.G.) (2009), 393 N.R. 246; 464 A.R. 149; 467 W.A.C. 149; 2009 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Jacquard (C.O.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 314; 207 N.R. 246; 157 N.S.R.(2d) 161; 462 A.P.R. 161, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Moore (J.) (2001), 155 B.C.A.C. 260; 254 W.A.C. 260; 2001 BCCA 378, refd to. [para. 40].

R. v. Parente (1988), 28 O.A.C. 154 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. A.F., 2002 BCPC 545, refd to. [para. 43].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 34 [para. 15].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Canada, Hansard, House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, No. 018, Sess. 1, 41 Parliament (February 7, 2012), p. 2-3 [para. 32].

Canada, Hansard, Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, No. 19, Sess. 1, 41 Parliament (May 17, 2012), p. 19:10 [para. 32].

Hansard - see Canada, Hansard, House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Hansard - see Canada, Hansard, Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Counsel:

J.J. Blazina, for the appellant;

J.R.W. Caldwell, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard at Vancouver, B.C., on January 9, 2015, before Chiasson, Frankel and Neilson, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered by Frankel, J.A., on February 10, 2015.

To continue reading

Request your trial
26 practice notes
  • R. v. Khill,
    • Canada
    • Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 14 Octubre 2021
    ...SKCA 8, 386 C.C.C. (3d) 107; R. v. Bengy, 2015 ONCA 397, 325 C.C.C. (3d) 22; R. v. Pilon, 2009 ONCA 248, 243 C.C.C. (3d) 109; R. v. Evans, 2015 BCCA 46, 321 C.C.C. (3d) 130; R. v. Green, 2015 QCCA 2109, 337 C.C.C. (3d) 73; R. v. Power, 2016 SKCA 29, 335 C.C.C. (3d) 317; R. v. Cormier, 2017 ......
  • Licence to Khill: What Appellate Decisions Reveal About Canada's New Self-Defence Law.
    • Canada
    • Queen's Law Journal Vol. 46 No. 1, September 2020
    • 22 Septiembre 2020
    ...created by s 34 more open-ended and flexible than the defences created by the prior self-defence provisions" at para 63); R v Evans, 2015 BCCA 46 at para 19; R v Cormier, supra note 23 at para (37.) See R v Bengy, 2015 ONCA 397 at para 47. (38.) See R v Khill, supra note 8 at para 62. (39.)......
  • Self-Defence, Necessity, and Duress
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Criminal Law. Eighth edition
    • 1 Septiembre 2022
    ...before their enactment on the basis that they substantively change the law and as such should be applied prospectively. See R v Evans , 2015 BCCA 46; R v Bengy , 2015 ONCA 397. 34 Khill , above note 16 at paras 42–45 and 118. 35 Ibid at para 46. CRIMINAL LAW 378 the response to the threat. ......
  • R. v. Levy (T.R.), 2016 NSCA 45
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 1 Junio 2016
    ...application only, as they introduce at least some substantive change to the law (see: R. v. Chubbs , 2013 NLCA 60; R. v. Evans , 2015 BCCA 46; R. v. Bengy , 2015 ONCA 397; R. v. Green , 2015 QCCA 2109; R. v. Power , 2016 SKCA 29). [106] The Citizen's Arrest and Self-defence Act repealed ss.......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
23 cases
  • R. v. Khill,
    • Canada
    • Supreme Court (Canada)
    • 14 Octubre 2021
    ...SKCA 8, 386 C.C.C. (3d) 107; R. v. Bengy, 2015 ONCA 397, 325 C.C.C. (3d) 22; R. v. Pilon, 2009 ONCA 248, 243 C.C.C. (3d) 109; R. v. Evans, 2015 BCCA 46, 321 C.C.C. (3d) 130; R. v. Green, 2015 QCCA 2109, 337 C.C.C. (3d) 73; R. v. Power, 2016 SKCA 29, 335 C.C.C. (3d) 317; R. v. Cormier, 2017 ......
  • R. v. Levy (T.R.), 2016 NSCA 45
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 1 Junio 2016
    ...application only, as they introduce at least some substantive change to the law (see: R. v. Chubbs , 2013 NLCA 60; R. v. Evans , 2015 BCCA 46; R. v. Bengy , 2015 ONCA 397; R. v. Green , 2015 QCCA 2109; R. v. Power , 2016 SKCA 29). [106] The Citizen's Arrest and Self-defence Act repealed ss.......
  • R. v. Mustard (G.A.), 2016 MBCA 40
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Appeal (Manitoba)
    • 11 Marzo 2016
    ...MBQB 264, refd to. [para. 11]. R. v. Knott (C.L.) (2014), 304 Man.R.(2d) 226; 2014 MBQB 72, refd to. [para. 11]. R. v. Evans (D.J.) (2015), 367 B.C.A.C. 148; 631 W.A.C. 148; 2015 BCCA 46, refd to. [para. R. v. Bengy (K.) (2015), 335 O.A.C. 268; 2015 ONCA 397, refd to. [para. 12]. R. v. Roge......
  • R. v. Woodford (S.E.J.), (2016) 325 Man.R.(2d) 73 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
    • 8 Enero 2016
    ...2013 MBQB 264, folld. [para. 17]. R. v. Knott (C.L.) (2014), 304 Man.R.(2d) 226; 2014 MBQB 72, folld. [para. 17]. R. v. Evans (D.J.) (2015), 367 B.C.A.C. 148; 631 W.A.C. 148; 321 C.C.C.(3d) 130; 2015 BCCA 46, refd to. [para. R. v. Bengy (K.) (2015), 335 O.A.C. 268; 325 C.C.C.(3d) 22; 2015 O......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
3 books & journal articles
  • Licence to Khill: What Appellate Decisions Reveal About Canada's New Self-Defence Law.
    • Canada
    • Queen's Law Journal Vol. 46 No. 1, September 2020
    • 22 Septiembre 2020
    ...created by s 34 more open-ended and flexible than the defences created by the prior self-defence provisions" at para 63); R v Evans, 2015 BCCA 46 at para 19; R v Cormier, supra note 23 at para (37.) See R v Bengy, 2015 ONCA 397 at para 47. (38.) See R v Khill, supra note 8 at para 62. (39.)......
  • Self-Defence, Necessity, and Duress
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Criminal Law. Eighth edition
    • 1 Septiembre 2022
    ...before their enactment on the basis that they substantively change the law and as such should be applied prospectively. See R v Evans , 2015 BCCA 46; R v Bengy , 2015 ONCA 397. 34 Khill , above note 16 at paras 42–45 and 118. 35 Ibid at para 46. CRIMINAL LAW 378 the response to the threat. ......
  • Self-Defence, Necessity, and Duress
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Archive Criminal Law. Seventh Edition
    • 4 Agosto 2018
    ...before their enactment on the basis that they substantively change the law and as such should be applied prospectively. See R v Evans , 2015 BCCA 46 [ Evans ]; R v Bengy , 2015 ONCA 397. CRIMINAL LAW 362 must act reasonably both with respect to the perceptions of the threat and the response......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT