R. v. O'Grady (G.L.), (1997) 93 B.C.A.C. 254 (CA)

• Judge: Donald, J.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: May 28, 1997
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1997), 93 B.C.A.C. 254 (CA)

R. v. O'Grady (G.L.) (1997), 93 B.C.A.C. 254 (CA);

    151 W.A.C. 254

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1997] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JL.007

Regina (respondent) v. Gerald Lawrence O'Grady (appellant)

(CA023203)

Indexed As: R. v. O'Grady (G.L.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Donald, J.A.

June 13, 1997.

Summary:

The accused appealed his conviction by a jury for the second degree murder of his wife. The accused applied for bail pending appeal.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal, per Donald, J.A., allowed the application.

Criminal Law - Topic 3304

Compelling appearance, detention and release - Interim release or detention of accused pending appeal - Detention nec­essary in the public interest - After three trials, the accused was convicted of his wife's second degree murder - The accused appealed and sought bail - The Crown opposed bail not because the accused posed a threat to anyone, but because the public would consider the cumulative effects of the proceedings as proof of guilt, making his release inappro­priate and contrary to the public interest - The accused was granted bail prior to his other trials and a previous appeal - The British Columbia Court of Appeal, per Donald, J.A., opined that bail applications should not be determined according to perceptions formed by ill-informed and unthoughtful members of society - The court granted bail.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. K.K. (1997), 85 B.C.A.C. 294; 138 W.A.C. 294 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

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. 9].

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, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Calder (M.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 660; 194 N.R. 52; 90 O.A.C. 18, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Hanna (K.D.) (1991), 3 B.C.A.C. 57; 7 W.A.C. 57 (C.A.), consd. [para. 10].

R. v. Latimer (R.W.) (1994), 128 Sask.R. 63; 85 W.A.C. 63 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Parsons (G.J.) (1994), 117 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 69; 365 A.P.R. 69 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Jack (B.G.) (1990), 69 Man.R.(2d) 5 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 24(2) [para. 9].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 679(3)(c) [para. 3].

Counsel:

James Hogan, for the appellant;

John Gordon, for the Crown.

This application was heard on May 28, 1997, at Vancouver, British Columbia, in Chambers before Donald, J.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal, who delivered the following on June 13, 1997.