R. v. Ferguson (T.J.), 2005 ABQB 156

JudgeVeit, J.
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
Case DateMarch 04, 2005
Citations2005 ABQB 156;(2005), 389 A.R. 366 (QB)

R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] A.R. TBEd. NO.141

Timothy John Ferguson (applicant) v. Her Majesty the Queen (respondent)

(031503964Q1; 2005 ABQB 156)

Indexed As: R. v. Ferguson (T.J.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Veit, J.

March 7, 2005.

Summary:

The accused was committed to stand trial on a charge of mischief that caused actual danger to life pursuant to s. 430(2) of the Criminal Code. The accused applied for judicial review.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application and set aside the committal to stand trial.

Criminal Law - Topic 2246

Wilful acts respecting property - Mischief -Elements - Damage to property - [See Criminal Law - Topic 2258 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 2258

Wilful acts respecting property - Mischief -Causing actual danger to life - The accused threw his barbecue off the balcony of his tenth floor apartment - The barbecue landed on an informal path that cut across the lawn area of the building property - The accused was committed to stand trial on a charge of mischief that caused actual danger to life, pursuant to s. 430(2) of the Criminal Code - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench set aside the committal to stand trial - There was no evidence of damage to, or interference with, property other than the accused's property - Further, there was no evidence that any individual was placed in "actual" danger as a result of the accused's act - The word "actual" as used in s. 430(2) meant "something existing in act", not something merely foreseeable, or theoretical, or possible - There was no evidence of any such danger because there was no evidence of there being anyone on the path or near the path when the accused threw the barbecue.

Words and Phrases

Actual danger to life - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench discussed the meaning of the phrase "actual danger to life" as used in s. 430(2) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 - See paragraphs 15 to 22.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Rothe, [1966] 4 C.C.C. 400 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Surette (J.R.W.) (1993), 123 N.S.R.(2d) 152; 340 A.P.R. 152; 82 C.C.C.(3d) 36 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Rodriguez (L.) (1998), 224 A.R. 161 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Nairn (1955), 112 C.C.C. 272 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. M.K.H., [2003] B.C.J. No. 2830 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Humphrey (1986), 21 O.A.C. 36 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Skogman, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 93; 54 N.R. 34, refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Plasko, [1991] O.J. No. 2411 (Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. B., [1975] O.J. No. 1666 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Beaulieu, [1988] O.J. No. 964 (Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Theodore (E.) (1993), 139 A.R. 234 (Prov. Ct.), affd. (1993), 145 A.R. 276; 55 W.A.C. 276 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

Quinn v. Leathem, [1901] A.C. 495; [1901] All E.R. Rep. 1 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Arcuri (G.), [2001] 2 S.C.R. 828; 274 N.R. 272; 150 O.A.C. 126, refd to. [para. 6].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 430(2) [para. 1 et seq.].

Counsel:

T.M. Engel (Engel Law Office), for the applicant;

J.S. Kennedy, for the Crown.

This application was heard on March 4, 2005, by Veit, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on March 7, 2005.

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3 practice notes
  • R. v. Le (T.Q.), (2008) 453 A.R. 162 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • September 5, 2008
    ...39]. R. v. Beatty (J.R.) (2008), 371 N.R. 119; 251 B.C.A.C. 7; 420 W.A.C. 7 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 41]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. Authors and Works Noticed: Halsbury's Laws of England (4th Ed. 1976), p. 22 [para. 25]. Sopinka, John, Lederman, Sidn......
  • R. v. Kishayinew (T.), 2014 SKQB 393
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    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • December 2, 2014
    ...et al. (2009), 334 Sask.R. 15; 2009 SKPC 36, refd to. [para. 7]. R. v. Hajek, 2009 ONCJ 75, refd to. [para. 17]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366; 2005 ABQB 156, refd to. [para. R. v. Surette (J.R.W.) (1993), 123 N.S.R.(2d) 152; 340 A.P.R. 152 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. Counsel:......
  • R. v. Head (D.), 2012 SKPC 64
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • April 18, 2012
    ...refd to. [para. 16, footnote 1]. R. v. Humphrey (1986), 21 O.A.C. 36 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18, footnote 3]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366; 2005 ABQB 156, refd to. [para. 20, footnote Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 430(2) [para. 2]. Counsel: T. He......
3 cases
  • R. v. Le (T.Q.), (2008) 453 A.R. 162 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • September 5, 2008
    ...39]. R. v. Beatty (J.R.) (2008), 371 N.R. 119; 251 B.C.A.C. 7; 420 W.A.C. 7 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 41]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. Authors and Works Noticed: Halsbury's Laws of England (4th Ed. 1976), p. 22 [para. 25]. Sopinka, John, Lederman, Sidn......
  • R. v. Kishayinew (T.), 2014 SKQB 393
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • December 2, 2014
    ...et al. (2009), 334 Sask.R. 15; 2009 SKPC 36, refd to. [para. 7]. R. v. Hajek, 2009 ONCJ 75, refd to. [para. 17]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366; 2005 ABQB 156, refd to. [para. R. v. Surette (J.R.W.) (1993), 123 N.S.R.(2d) 152; 340 A.P.R. 152 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20]. Counsel:......
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    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • April 18, 2012
    ...refd to. [para. 16, footnote 1]. R. v. Humphrey (1986), 21 O.A.C. 36 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18, footnote 3]. R. v. Ferguson (T.J.) (2005), 389 A.R. 366; 2005 ABQB 156, refd to. [para. 20, footnote Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 430(2) [para. 2]. Counsel: T. He......

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