R. v. G.S.J. and L.A.J., (2007) 314 N.B.R.(2d) 154 (PC)

• Judge: Ferguson, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: April 19, 2007
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2007), 314 N.B.R.(2d) 154 (PC);2007 NBPC 14

R. v. G.S.J. (2007), 314 N.B.R.(2d) 154 (PC);

    314 R.N.-B.(2e) 154; 812 A.P.R. 154

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Temp. Cite: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.048

Renvoi temp.: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.048

Her Majesty the Queen v. G.S.J. and L.A.J.

(No. 13259913; 2007 NBPC 14; 2007 NBCP 14)

Indexed As: R. v. G.S.J. and L.A.J.

Répertorié: R. v. G.S.J. and L.A.J.

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Ferguson, P.C.J.

April 19, 2007.

Summary:

Résumé:

The accused, parents of a daughter born in 1999, were charged with failing to provide their daughter with the necessaries of life and thereby endangered her life. The father was charged with assault on the daughter. The mother was charged with assaulting a peace officer engaged in the execution of his duty.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court found the parents guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life to their daughter and thereby endangering her life: see paragraphs 239 to 289. The father was found not guilty of the assault charge respecting the daughter absent proof beyond reasonable doubt that he was the perpetrator of the offence: see paragraphs 215 to 238. The mother was acquitted of the assault against a peace officer charge: see paragraphs 201 to 214.

Criminal Law - Topic 1212

Offences against person and reputation - Particular duties - To provide necessaries -The New Brunswick Provincial Court discussed the offence of failure to provide the necessaries of life to a child aged less than 16 years - The discussion included the elements of the offence, the required mens rea or intention and what constituted "necessaries of life" and endangerment to life - See paragraphs 239 to 258.

Criminal Law - Topic 1212

Offences against person and reputation - Particular duties - To provide necessaries -In 2005, a social worker apprehended from her parents a daughter born in 1999 - The child appeared dishevelled and tired looking, was favouring her right wrist (which was broken) and was exhibiting numerous bruises and abrasions - She also appeared to have lost considerable weight since last seen by the social workers two weeks earlier - The parents were charged with failing to provide their daughter with the necessaries of life and thereby endangered her life - The New Brunswick Provincial Court found the parents guilty - Firstly, it was offensive to common sense and logic that two stay at home parents not be aware of who mistreated the child - Thus, each failed in their duty to protect the child in the circumstances or, if they were the perpetrator, they failed by their deliberate acts - Secondly, the parents, who ac-knowledged the presence of the visible injuries on the child, failed to seek medical attention for the child - See paragraphs 259 to 289.

Criminal Law - Topic 1414

Offences against persons and reputation - Assaults - Assault of a peace officer - In 2005, a social worker apprehended from her parents a daughter born in 1999 - The next day, social workers and some police officers returned to the parents' residence to apprehend the other children - No family court order allowing entry was obtained - One police officer braced his arm in the doorway to prevent the mother from coming out - The mother struck the officer's arm several times - She was charged with assaulting a peace officer engaged in the execution of his duties - She argued that, absent a court order, the police were not engaged in the lawful execution of their duty as they were not confronted with exigent circumstances - The New Brunswick Provincial Court acquitted the mother where there had been time to obtain a court order, there were no exigent circumstances justifying entry and the parents never consented to entry - See paragraphs 201 to 214.

Evidence - Topic 7002

Opinion evidence - Expert evidence - General - Acceptance, rejection and weight to be given to expert opinion - In 2005, a social worker apprehended from her parents a daughter born in 1999 - The child was examined by Dr. Bulleid - Dr. Bulleid made findings of physical abuse and deprivation - The parents were charged with failing to provide their daughter with the necessaries of life and thereby endangered her life - Dr. Bulleid repeated her findings in court - A second doctor, Dr. Messenger, who had been involved with the child prior to her apprehension, reviewed Dr. Bulleid's findings and concluded that there was "incontrovertible evidence of child physical abuse" - The New Brunswick Provincial Court ruled that, the factual underpinning of Dr. Bulleid's conclusions having been proven, Dr. Messenger's concurrent conclusion achieved the status of an opinion that could be considered and given weight - See paragraphs 259 to 280.

Droit criminel - Cote 1212

Infractions contre la personne et la réputation - Devoirs particuliers - Fournir les choses nécessaires à l'existence - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 1212 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 1414

Infractions contre la personne et la réputation - Voies de fait - Voies de fait contre un agent de la paix - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 1414 ].

Preuve - Cote 7002

Témoignages d'opinion - Preuve d'expert -Généralités - Acceptation ou rejet d'une opinion d'expert ou poids à lui donner - [Voir Evidence - Topic 7002 ].

Words and Phrases

Endangers the life - The New Brunswick Provincial Court discussed the meaning of the expression "endangers the life" ("met en danger la vie") found in s. 215(2) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 - See paragraphs 257 and 258.

Words and Phrases

Necessaries of life - The New Brunswick Provincial Court discussed the meaning of the expression "necessaries of life" ("choses nécessaires à l'existence") found in s. 215(1) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 - See paragraphs 253 to 256.

Terminologie

Choses nécessaires à l'existence - La Cour provinciale du Nouveau-Brunswick discuta le sens de l'expression "choses nécessaires à l'existence" ("necessaries of life") trouvée à l'art. 215(1) du Code criminel, L.R.C. 1985, c. C-46 - Voir les paragraphes 253 à 256.

Terminologie

Met en danger la vie - La Cour provinciale du Nouveau-Brunswick discuta le sens de l'expression "met en danger la vie" ("endangers the life") trouvée à l'art. 215(2) du Code criminel, L.R.C. 1985, c. C-46 - Voir les paragraphes 257 et 258.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Feeney (M.), [1997] 2 S.C.R. 13; 212 N.R. 83; 91 B.C.A.C. 1; 148 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 207].

R. v. Tessling (W.), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 432; 326 N.R. 228; 192 O.A.C. 168, refd to. [para. 207].

R. v. Godoy (V.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 311; 235 N.R. 134; 117 O.A.C. 127, refd to. [para. 207].

R. v. Silveira (A.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 297; 181 N.R. 161; 81 O.A.C. 161, consd. [para. 208].

R. v. Backhouse (J.) (2005), 195 O.A.C. 80 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 212].

R. v. Plamondon (K.R.) (1997), 101 B.C.A.C. 1; 164 W.A.C. 1; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 314 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 212].

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. 212].

R. v. Lewis (D.E.) (1998), 107 O.A.C. 46; 38 O.R.(3d) 540 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 213].

R. v. Starr (R.D.), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144; 258 N.R. 250; 148 Man.R.(2d) 161; 224 W.A.C. 161, consd. [para. 217].

R. v. Khelawon (R.) (2006), 355 N.R. 267; 220 O.A.C. 338 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 218].

R. v. D.W., [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742; 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352, refd to. [para. 219].

R. v. Leighton (B.K.) (1994), 155 N.B.R.(2d) 211; 398 A.P.R. 211 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 219].

R. v. P.E.C. (2004), 204 B.C.A.C. 122; 333 W.A.C. 122; 189 C.C.C.(3d) 178 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 219].

R. v. R.G.L. (2004), 186 O.A.C. 355 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 219].

R. v. R.W., [1992] 2 S.C.R. 122; 137 N.R. 214; 54 O.A.C. 164, refd to. [para. 219].

R. v. Moose (N.C.) (2004), 190 Man.R.(2d) 156; 335 W.A.C. 156; 190 C.C.C.(3d) 521 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 220].

R. v. C.J.L. (2004), 190 Man.R.(2d) 177; 335 W.A.C. 177 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 220].

R. v. Edwards (C.) (2004), 189 O.A.C. 70; 187 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 223].

R. v. Lavoie (1990), 107 N.B.R.(2d) 181; 267 A.P.R. 181 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 223].

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.), consd. [para. 233].

Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76; 315 N.R. 201; 183 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 237].

R. v. Naglik, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 122; 157 N.R. 161; 65 O.A.C. 161, consd. [para. 241].

R. v. Popen, [1981] O.J. No. 921 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 244].

R. v. R.P. - see R. v. Pertab (R.).

R. v. Pertab (R.), [2004] O.T.C. 1111 (Sup. Ct.), consd. [para. 245].

R. v. Nixon, [1990] B.C.J. No. 1581 (C.A.), consd. [para. 246].

R. v. J.R.B., [2002] N.J. No. 296 (Nfld. Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 247].

R. v. Peterson (D.) (2005), 203 O.A.C. 364 (C.A.), consd. [para. 249].

R. v. Brown (W.J.) (2000), 134 O.A.C. 151 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 252].

R. v. Lewis, [1903] O.J. No. 123 (C.A.), consd. [para. 253].

R. v. Mallaley (P.) (2003), 260 N.B.R.(2d) 304; 684 A.P.R. 304 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 256].

R. v. Barry (2004), 187 C.C.C.(3d) 176 (Nfld. C.A.), consd. [para. 258].

R. v. Khelawon (R.) (2005), 195 O.A.C. 11 (C.A.), consd. [para. 259].

R. v. Abbey (1982), 43 N.R. 30; 68 C.C.C.(2d) 394 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 274].

R. v. Lavallee, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 852; 108 N.R. 321; 67 Man.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 274].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 215(1), sect. 215(2) [para. 240].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Darlene Blunston, for the Crown;

Richard Cove and Randy Maillet, for G.S.J. and L.A.J.

This matter was heard on April 3 to 5, May 23, October 12 and 13, 2006, and March 15, 2007, by Ferguson, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court.

Ferguson, P.C.J., delivered the following decision on April 19, 2007.