R. v. Harrison (G.M.), (1993) 134 N.B.R.(2d) 160 (PC)

• Judge: Harper, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: March 26, 1993
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1993), 134 N.B.R.(2d) 160 (PC)

R. v. Harrison (G.M.) (1993), 134 N.B.R.(2d) 160 (PC);

    134 R.N.-B.(2e) 160; 342 A.P.R. 160

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[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. Gary Michael Harrison

Indexed As: R. v. Harrison (G.M.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Criminal Division

Harper, P.C.J.

March 26, 1993.

Summary:

The R.C.M.P., while searching Harrison's residence pursuant to a warrant under the Liquor Control Act, discovered a small tin box containing drugs, partially concealed in the wall. Harrison signed a consent to search form. The R.C.M.P. conducted a further search and discovered narcotics. Harrison was charged with two counts of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking. Harrison argued that his ss. 7 and 8 Charter rights were violated and that the evidence of the contents of the tin box and all evidence obtained during the second search should be excluded under s. 24(2).

The New Brunswick Provincial Court excluded the evidence and found the accused not guilty.

Civil Rights - Topic 1645

Property - Search and seizure - Consent to search - The R.C.M.P., while searching Harrison's home pursuant to a warrant under the Liquor Control Act, discovered a small tin box containing drugs, partially concealed in the wall - Harrison signed a consent to search form - The R.C.M.P. conducted a further search and discovered narcotics - The New Brunswick Provincial Court held that there had been a serious violation of Harrison's s. 8 Charter right and excluded the evidence of the contents of the tin box and the evidence obtained during the second search - The court stated that "one of the basic requirements of any valid consent is that it must be intended to govern actions in futuro and not attempt to validate an act which was invalid and illegal ab initio" - See para­graph 27.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unrea­sonable search and seizure defined - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of right - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1645 ].

Cases Noticed:

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. 11].

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. 13].

R. v. Lawrence (1990), 46 O.A.C. 345; 80 C.R.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Mellenthin (1992), 144 N.R. 50; 135 A.R. 1; 33 W.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [paras. 14, 19].

R. v. Wills (1992), 52 O.A.C. 321; 12 C.R.(4th) 58 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Hebert, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 151; 110 N.R. 1; [1990] 5 W.W.R. 1; 57 C.C.C.(3d) 145; 49 C.R.R. 114; 47 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1, refd to, [para, 27].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 8, sect. 24(2) [para. 10].

Counsel:

Not available.

This case was heard before Harper, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, Criminal Division, who delivered the fol­lowing judgment on March 26, 1993.