R. v. Francis, (1989) 100 N.B.R.(2d) 34 (PC)

• Judge: Harper, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: August 25, 1989
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1989), 100 N.B.R.(2d) 34 (PC)

R. v. Francis (1989), 100 N.B.R.(2d) 34 (PC);

    100 R.N.-B.(2e) 34; 252 A.P.R. 34

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

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Her Majesty the Queen v. Allan George Francis

Indexed As: R. v. Francis

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Harper, P.C.J.

August 25, 1989.

Summary:

The accused hockey player cross-checked another player in a gentlemen's league game where no body checking was allowed. He was charged with assault causing bodily harm.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court convicted the accused and sentenced him accordingly.

Criminal Law - Topic 1417

Assault - Assault causing bodily harm - Sports violence - The accused hockey player cross-checked another player in the back of the neck, knocking him to the ice unconscious - The victim suffered a soft tissue injury to the neck - The incident occurred during a gentlemen's game where no body checking was permitted - The New Brunswick Provincial Court discussed the principles applicable in determining whether violence during a sporting event constitutes an assault in the criminal sense - On the basis of these principles, the court convicted the accused of assault causing bodily harm.

Criminal Law - Topic 5883

Sentence - Assault - Causing bodily harm - Sports violence - The accused hockey player assaulted another player during a gentlemen's hockey game by cross-checking the player from behind - Accused first offender - The New Brunswick Provincial Court sentenced the accused to one day in jail, plus a $300.00 fine - The court warned that in the future similar transgressors could look for a much more severe penalty - See paragraphs 75 to 79.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Maki (1971), l C.C.C.(2d) 333, consd. [paras. 12, 13, 17, 24].

Agar v. Canning (1965), 54 W.W.R.(N.S.) 302, consd. [para. 13].

R. v. Green (1971), 2 C.C.C.(2d) 442, consd. [paras. 15, 16, 24, 48].

R. v. MacTavish (1972), 4 N.B.R.(2d) 876; 8 C.C.C.(2d) 206, consd. [paras. 18-20, 38].

R. v. Leyte (1974), 13 C.C.C.(2d) 458, consd. [paras. 21-26].

R. v. Watson (1976), 26 C.C.C.(2d) 150, consd. [paras. 25-39].

R. v. Maloney (1976), 28 C.C.C.(2d) 323, consd. [para. 40].

R. v. St. Croix (1979), 47 C.C.C.(2d) 122, consd. [para. 42].

R. v. Mayer (1985), 41 Man.R.(2d) 73, consd. [para. 47].

R. v. Gray, [1981] 6 W.W.R. 654, consd. [para. 48].

R. v. Côté (1981), 22 C.R.(3d) 97, consd. [para. 49].

R. v. Cey (1989), 75 Sask.R. 53, consd. [paras. 53-60, 67].

R. v. Jobidon (1989), 30 O.A.C. 172; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 176, agreed with [paras. 60-70].

R. v. Donovan, [1934] All E.R. 207, consd. [para. 63].

Attorney General's Reference (No. 6 of 1980), [1981] 2 All E.R. 1057, consd. [para. 64].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Hechter, William, Criminal Law and Violence in Sport (1976-77), 19 C.L.Q. 425, p. 450 [para. 46].

Letourneau, Gilles, Sports Violence and Criminal Law in Canada (1981), 22 C.R.(3d) 103, generally [para. 49]; p. 106 [para. 50].

Counsel:

Glen Abbott, for the Crown;

R. Leslie Jackson, for the accused.

This case was heard before Harper, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on August 25, 1989: