R. v. Grewall (A.S.) et al., 2000 BCSC 820

• Judge: Romilly, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
• Case Date: May 26, 2000
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: 2000 BCSC 820;[2000] B.C.T.C. 906 (SC)

R. v. Grewall (A.S.), [2000] B.C.T.C. 906 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2000] B.C.T.C. TBEd. DE.051

Regina v. Ajit Singh Grewall, Sukhjit Singh Grewall and Sandeep Singh Toor

(X052493; 2000 BCSC 820)

Indexed As: R. v. Grewall (A.S.) et al.

British Columbia Supreme Court

New Westminster

Romilly, J.

May 26, 2000.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Civil Rights - Topic 1373

Security of the person - Police surveillance - Interception of private communications - See paragraphs 86 to 117.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - See paragraphs 86 to 117.

Civil Rights - Topic 8550

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular words and phrases - Bring the administration of justice into disrepute - See paragraphs 86 to 117.

Criminal Law - Topic 3093

Special powers - Issue of search warrants - What constitutes reasonable grounds - See paragraphs 48 to 62.

Criminal Law - Topic 5274.4

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications (incl. video surveillance) - Application for - Requirement of investigative necessity - See paragraphs 63 to 84.

Criminal Law - Topic 5274.5

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications (incl. video surveillance) - Application for - Evidence in support - See paragraphs 48 to 62.

Criminal Law - Topic 5283

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications (incl. video surveillance) - Authority for - Judicial review of - General - See paragraphs 17 to 24.

Criminal Law - Topic 5283.3

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications (incl. video surveillance) - Authority for - Judicial review - Evidence - See paragraphs 17 to 24.

Criminal Law - Topic 5284

Evidence and witnesses - Interception of private communications (incl. video surveillance) - Authority for - Form and content - See paragraphs 25 to 85.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Russell (M.C.) et al. (1999), 27 B.C.T.C. 81 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Garofoli et al., [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1421; 116 N.R. 241; 43 O.A.C. 1; 36 Q.A.C. 161; 60 C.C.C.(3d) 161; 80 C.R.(3d) 317; 50 C.R.R. 206, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Hiscock (G.); R. v. Sauvé (P.) (1992), 46 Q.A.C. 263; 72 C.C.C.(3d) 303 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Melenchuk (R.) et al. (1993), 24 B.C.A.C. 97; 40 W.A.C. 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

Simonyi-Gindele et al. v. Sliter et al. (1991), 2 B.C.A.C. 73; 5 W.A.C. 73 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Madrid (L.A.) et al. (1994), 48 B.C.A.C. 271; 78 W.A.C. 271 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Morris (W.R.) (1998), 173 N.S.R.(2d) 1; 527 A.P.R. 1; 134 C.C.C.(3d) 539 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Gill (1980), 56 C.C.C.(2d) 169 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

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; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 26].

Bâtiments Fafard Inc. et autres v. Canada et autres (1991), 41 Q.A.C. 254 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Bisson (J.) et autres (1994), 60 Q.A.C. 113; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 440 (Que. C.A.), affd. [1994] 3 S.C.R. 1097; 173 N.R. 237; 65 Q.A.C. 241; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 94, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Grant (D.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 223; 159 N.R. 161; 35 B.C.A.C. 1; 57 W.A.C. 1; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 173; 24 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Plant (R.S.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 281; 157 N.R. 321; 145 A.R. 104; 55 W.A.C. 104; [1993] 8 W.W.R. 287; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 203, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Couture (1998), 129 C.C.C.(3d) 302 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Kelly (R.J.), [1994] B.C.J. No. 1490 (S.C.), affd. (1995), 61 B.C.A.C. 119; 100 W.A.C. 119; 99 C.C.C.(3d) 367 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Chambers (1983), 9 C.C.C.(3d) 132 (B.C.C.A.), affd. [1986] 2 S.C.R. 29; 67 N.R. 382; 26 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Concepcion (A.) et al. (1994), 48 B.C.A.C. 44; 78 W.A.C. 44 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Finlay and Grellette (1985), 11 O.A.C. 279; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 48 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Debot, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1140; 102 N.R. 161; 37 O.A.C. 1; 52 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 73 C.R.(3d) 129; 45 C.R.R. 49, refd to. [para. 48].

Descôteaux et al. v. Mierzwinski et al., [1982] 1 S.C.R. 860; 44 N.R. 462; 141 D.L.R.(3d) 590; 70 C.C.C.(2d) 385, refd to. [para. 49].

Baron et al. v. Minister of National Revenue et al., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 416; 146 N.R. 270: 78 C.C.C.(3d) 510; 18 C.R.(4th) 274, refd to. [para. 50].

R. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (1992), 77 C.C.C.(3d) 341 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 51].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207; 1 C.R.(4th) 62; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 193; 51 B.C.L.R.(2d) 157; 50 C.R.R. 285, refd to. [para. 52].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 53].

R. v. Arason (R.H.) and Derosier (G.L.) (1992), 21 B.C.A.C. 20; 37 W.A.C. 20; 78 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 55].

R. v. Jones (G.I.) (1991), 89 Sask.R. 214; 64 C.C.C.(3d) 181 (C.A.), affd. (1993), 150 N.R. 148; 109 Sask.R. 240; 42 W.A.C. 240; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 287 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 56].

Wiens v. R., [1973] 6 W.W.R. 757 (Man. Q.B.), refd to. [para. 57].

R. v. Shayesteh (S.) (1996), 94 O.A.C. 81; 111 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Bernshaw (N.), [1995] 1 S.C.R. 254; 176 N.R. 81; 53 B.C.A.C. 1; 87 W.A.C. 1; 35 C.R.(4th) 201; 95 C.C.C.(3d) 193; [1995] 3 W.W.R. 457; 8 M.V.R.(3d) 75, refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 30; 103 N.R. 86; 37 O.A.C. 322; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 74 C.R.(3d) 281; 45 C.R.R. 278, refd to. [para. 60].

R. v. Duarte - see R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano.

R. v. Araujo (A.) et al. (1998), 109 B.C.A.C. 131; 177 W.A.C. 131; 127 C.C.C.(3d) 315 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Cheung (Y.W.) (1997), 97 B.C.A.C. 161; 157 W.A.C. 161; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 507 (C.A.), leave to appeal dismissed [1998] 1 S.C.R. vi; 227 N.R. 291; 119 B.C.A.C. 320; 194 W.A.C. 320, refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Thompson et al., [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1111; 114 N.R. 1; 59 C.C.C.(3d) 225; [1990] 6 W.W.R. 481; 49 B.C.L.R.(2d) 321; 80 C.R.(3d) 129; 73 D.L.R.(4th) 596; 50 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Lachance, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1490; 116 N.R. 325; 43 O.A.C. 241; 36 Q.A.C. 243; 60 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 80 C.R.(3d) 374; 50 C.R.R. 260, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Grant (I.M.) (1998), 131 Man.R.(2d) 36; 187 W.A.C. 36; 130 C.C.C.(3d) 53 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Morrison (P.) (1989), 34 O.A.C. 50; 50 C.C.C.(3d) 353 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 73].

R. v. Barbeau (1996), 110 C.C.C.(3d) 69 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

R. v. Paulson (J.Y.) (1995), 57 B.C.A.C. 217; 94 W.A.C. 217; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Shalala (R.H.) (2000), 224 N.B.R.(2d) 118; 574 A.P.R. 118 (C.A.), affing. (1997), 198 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 506 A.P.R. 1 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 77].

R. v. Smyk (K.W.) et al. (1993), 88 Man.R.(2d) 303; 51 W.A.C. 303; 86 C.C.C.(3d) 63 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 79].

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.) (1997), 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 86].

R. v. Pope (B.) (1998), 219 A.R. 85; 179 W.A.C. 85; 129 C.C.C.(3d) 59 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 88].

R. v. Gonzales, [1997] O.J. No. 4926 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 90].

R. v. Solomon (1997), 118 C.C.C.(3d) 351 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Rendon (1999), 140 C.C.C.(3d) 12 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Gibbons (S.) (1998), 163 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 209; 503 A.P.R. 209 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Bartle (K.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 173; 172 N.R. 1; 74 O.A.C. 161; 92 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 33 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 97].

R. v. Wise, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 527; 133 N.R. 161; 51 O.A.C. 351; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 102].

R. v. Elshaw, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 24; 128 N.R. 241; 3 B.C.A.C. 81; 7 W.A.C. 81; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 59 B.C.L.R.(2d) 143, refd to. [para. 103].

R. v. Duguay, Murphy and Sevigny, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 93; 91 N.R. 201; 31 O.A.C. 177; 46 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 105].

R. v. Genest, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 59; 91 N.R. 161; 19 Q.A.C. 163; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 67 C.R.(3d) 224; 37 C.R.R. 252, refd to. [para. 105].

R. v. Manninen, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1233; 76 N.R. 198; 21 O.A.C. 192; 58 C.R.(3d) 97; 34 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 41 D.L.R.(4th) 301, refd to. [para. 105].

R. v. Greffe, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 755; 107 N.R. 1; 107 A.R. 1; 55 C.C.C.(3d) 161; 75 C.R.(3d) 257; 46 C.R.R. 1; [1990] 3 W.W.R. 577; 73 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97, refd to. [para. 105].

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; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122, refd to. [para. 106].

R. v. Laurin (R.R.) (1997), 98 O.A.C. 50; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 519 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 108].

R. v. Puskas (J.F.) (1997), 104 O.A.C. 310; 120 C.C.C.(3d) 548 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 108].

R. v. Lauda (J.M.) (1998), 106 O.A.C. 161; 122 C.C.C.(3d) 74 (C.A.), affd. [1998] 2 S.C.R. 683; 232 N.R. 1; 115 O.A.C. 293; 129 C.C.C.(3d) 225, refd to. [para. 108].

R. v. Lewis (D.E.) (1998), 107 O.A.C. 46 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 109].

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; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 7; 38 C.R.(4th) 265; 28 C.R.R.(2d) 244, refd to. [para. 110].

R. v. Bohn (J.A.) (2000), 136 B.C.A.C. 263; 222 W.A.C. 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 111].

R. v. Golub (D.J.) (1997), 102 O.A.C. 176; 117 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 111].

R. v. Belnavis (A.) and Lawrence (C.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341; 216 N.R. 161; 103 O.A.C. 81; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 405; 151 D.L.R.(4th) 443, refd to. [para. 112].

R. v. Caslake (T.L.), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 51; 221 N.R. 281; 123 Man.R.(2d) 208; 159 W.A.C. 208; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 112].

R. v. Généreux, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 259; 133 N.R. 241; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 88 D.L.R.(4th) 110, refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Duncanson, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 836; 135 N.R. 117; 97 Sask.R. 96; 12 W.A.C. 96, affing. (1991), 93 Sask.R. 193; 4 W.A.C. 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Hagen, [1991] B.C.J. No. 613 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Harris and Lighthouse Video Centres Ltd. (1987), 20 O.A.C. 26; 35 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused [1987] 2 S.C.R. vii; 86 N.R. 400; 25 O.A.C. 240, refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Fish (1989), 35 O.A.C. 245; 44 C.R.R. 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Ottenbreit (1989), 77 Sask.R. 3 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Bailey (1988), 87 N.S.R.(2d) 245; 222 A.P.R. 245; 39 C.R.R. 378 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. Siddall (1992), 110 N.S.R.(2d) 117; 299 A.P.R. 117 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Watt, David, Interception of Private Communications, Current Issues in Criminal Law, Canadian Bar Association, Institute of Continuing Legal Education (January 19, 1991), p. 28 [para. 20].

Watt, David, Section 17.5: The Admissibility of Primary Evidence, National Criminal Seminar (1999), p. 21 [para. 93].

Counsel:

Sean Madigan, Q.C., and Winston Sayson, for the Crown;

Richard Peck, Q.C., Kevin Filkow and Nikos Harris, for Ajit Singh Grewall;

David Gibbons, Q.C., and Richard Fowler, for Sukhjit S. Grewall;

Adrian F. Brooks and Donna Turko, for Sandeep S. Toor.

This voir dire was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 1 and 2, 2000, before Romilly, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on May 26, 2000.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.