R. v. Hoang,

JudgeClark,O'Leary,Wittmann
Neutral Citation2003 ABCA 251
CourtCourt of Appeal (Alberta)
Date18 December 2003

R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291 (CA);

    312 W.A.C. 291

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2004] A.R. TBEd. JA.017

Her Majesty the Queen (respondent) v. Tam Van Hoang (appellant)

(01-00087; 2003 ABCA 251)

Indexed As: R. v. Hoang (T.V.)

Alberta Court of Appeal

O'Leary and Wittmann, JJ.A., and Clark, J.(ad hoc)

December 18, 2003.

Summary:

The accused was charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking. He applied to have evidence of marihuana excluded. Following a voir dire, the trial judge admitted the evidence (see 284 A.R. 201). The accused changed his plea to guilty. A conviction was entered. The accused sought to withdraw the guilty plea and appeal the voir dire ruling.

The Alberta Court of Appeal refused to allow the accused to withdraw his plea. The court dismissed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - During a stop-over at the Calgary airport, the accused was approached and questioned by police - The accused consented to the police searching his luggage - They found marihuana and charged the accused with possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking - The accused sought to exclude the evidence, alleging certain Charter violations - The trial judge held that there were no Charter violations - Regardless, the trial judge would not have excluded the evidence, holding that any breach was not serious - The police acted in good faith and advised the accused that he could

leave at any time - There was some legitimate urgency on the part of the police to determine if the accused was a courier before he left the jurisdiction - Although there were other means of obtaining the evidence, it would likely have delayed the flight - The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the accused's appeal - It could not say that the trial judge erred - See paragraphs 45 to 50.

Criminal Law - Topic 4227

Procedure - Pleas - Change of plea from guilty to not guilty - The accused was charged with a drug offence - Following a voir dire, the trial judge denied the accused's application to exclude evidence - Following a discussion with his counsel, the accused changed his plea to guilty - A conviction was entered - The accused applied to withdraw his guilty plea and appeal the voir dire ruling - He argued that his guilty plea was not informed because he was not aware that it might foreclose his ability to appeal the voir dire ruling - The Alberta Court of Appeal refused to allow the accused to withdraw his guilty plea - There was no evidence that the accused's trial counsel, an experienced criminal defence lawyer, was under the mistaken belief about the effects of a guilty plea - He simply did not discuss the matter with the accused - Further, the accused affirmed his admission of guilt and sought to benefit from his plea at his sentencing - Finally, there was no miscarriage of justice because the trial judge did not err in admitting the evidence - See paragraphs 14 to 51.

Criminal Law - Topic 4227

Procedure - Pleas - Change of plea from guilty to not guilty - The Alberta Court of Appeal stated that "There are practical and valid policy considerations why a court should not allow a guilty plea to be withdrawn except in exceptional circumstances. Both the accused and the state benefit when an accused pleads guilty. For the accused, additional charges may be withdrawn or a reduced sentence recommended. A guilty plea is treated as a mitigating factor in sentencing. Because no trial is required, judicial resources and resources in the Crown prosecutor's office are saved. Appeals are limited and duplication of proceedings is avoided. ... Where the guilty plea results in a miscarriage of justice the plea should be permitted to be withdrawn or set aside. A miscarriage of justice may be found when a guilty plea was not valid or when the accused suffered prejudice as a result of the plea." - See paragraphs 25 to 27.

Criminal Law - Topic 4229

Procedure - Pleas - Guilty plea - Variation of conviction on appeal - [See first Criminal Law - Topic 4227 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4967

Appeals - Indictable offences - Powers of Court of Appeal - Conviction appeal following guilty plea - [See first Criminal Law - Topic 4227 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Fegan (J.J.) (1993), 62 O.A.C. 146; 80 C.C.C.(3d) 356 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Claveau (L.F.) (2003), 260 N.B.R.(2d) 192; 684 A.P.R. 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. R.T. (1992), 58 O.A.C. 81; 17 C.R.(4th) 247 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Gardiner, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 368; 43 N.R. 361, refd to. [para. 17].

Adgey v. R., [1975] 2 S.C.R. 426, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Korponey, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 41; 44 N.R. 103, refd to. [para. 17].

Korponay v. Canada (Attorney General) - see R. v. Korponey.

R. v. Richard (R.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 525; 203 N.R. 8; 182 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 463 A.P.R. 161, refd to. [para. 17].

Brady v. United States (1970), 397 U.S. 742, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Senior (L.W.A.) (1996), 181 A.R. 1; 116 W.A.C. 1 (C.A.), affd. [1997] 2 S.C.R. 288; 212 N.R. 235; 200 A.R. 222; 146 W.A.C. 222, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Brosseau, [1969] S.C.R. 181, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Bliss, [1937] 1 D.L.R. 1 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Johnson and Creanza, [1945] 4 D.L.R. 75 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Hand (No. 1), [1946] 3 D.L.R. 128; 85 C.C.C. 388 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Wally, [1985] Y.J. No. 60 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Newman (R.B.) (1993), 61 O.A.C. 267; 12 O.R.(3d) 481 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

Thibodeau v. R., [1955] S.C.R. 646, refd to. [para. 24].

Housen v. Nikolaisen et al., [2002] 2 S.C.R. 235; 286 N.R. 1; 219 Sask.R. 1; 272 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Djekic (C.) (2000), 135 O.A.C. 220; 147 C.C.C.(3d) 572 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Rajaeefard (A.R.) (1996), 87 O.A.C. 356; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Rubenstein (1987), 24 O.A.C. 309; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 91 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Taillefer (B.) (2003), 313 N.R. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 30].

Parker v. Ross (1972), 470 F.2d 1092 (4th Cir.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Lyons, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309; 80 N.R. 161; 82 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 207 A.P.R. 271, refd to. [para. 37].

McMann v. Richardson (1970), 397 U.S. 759, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Huynh (1986), 75 A.R. 238 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 40].

R. v. Roberts (L.) (1998), 106 O.A.C. 308 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607; 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1, refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. Belnavis (A.) and Lawrence (C.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341; 216 N.R. 161; 103 O.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. Mellenthin, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 615; 144 N.R. 50; 135 A.R. 1; 33 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. Buhay (M.A.) (2003), 305 N.R. 158; 177 Man.R.(2d) 72; 304 W.A.C. 72 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Sheppard (C.), [2002] 1 S.C.R. 869; 284 N.R. 342; 211 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 50; 633 A.P.R. 50, refd to. [para. 48].

Authors and Works Noticed:

American Bar Association, Standards for Criminal Justice (2nd Ed. 1980) (1982 Supp.), vol. 3, p. 14.5 [para. 26].

Counsel:

R.J. Wolson, Q.C., and W.T. deWit, for the appellant;

D.R. Valgardson, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard by O'Leary and Wittmann, JJ.A., and Clark, J.(ad hoc), of the Alberta Court of Appeal. Wittmann, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the court on December 18, 2003.

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39 practice notes
  • Table of cases
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    • Irwin Books Ethics and Criminal Law. Second Edition
    • June 19, 2015
    ...R v Hirschboltz, 2004 SKQB 17 .......................................................................... 194 R v Hoang, 2003 ABCA 251 .................................................................429, 430, 434 R v Hofung (2001), 53 OR (3d) 535, 154 CCC (3d) 257, [2001] OJ No 1342 (CA) ........
  • Plea Discussions
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    • Irwin Books Ethics and Criminal Law. Second Edition
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    ...above note 6 at paras 43 and 70; R v RT (1992), 17 CR (4th) 247 at para 13 (Ont CA) [ RT ]; Duong , above note 6 at para 12; R v Hoang , 2003 ABCA 251 at para 17 [ Hoang ]; R v Messervey , 2010 NSCA 55 at para 56 [ Messervey ]; R v Brown , 2006 PESCAD 17 at para 37 [ Brown ]. 8 See DMG , ab......
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    ...R. v. Kang-Brown (G.). R. v. Fash (D.M.) (1999), 244 A.R. 146; 209 W.A.C. 146; 1999 ABCA 267, refd to. [para. 47]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291; 2003 ABCA 251, refd to. [para. R. v. Makhmudov (R.) et al. (2007), 417 A.R. 228; 410 W.A.C. 228; 2007 ABCA 248, refd to......
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    ...v. Daley (I.M.) (2001), 281 A.R. 262; 248 W.A.C. 262; 156 C.C.C.(3d) 225; 2001 ABCA 155, refd to. [paras. 21, 126]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291; 2003 ABCA 251, refd to. [para. R. v. Tessling (W.) (2003), 168 O.A.C. 124; 171 C.C.C.(3d) 361 (C.A.), refd to. [paras.......
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37 cases
  • R. v. Tran (L.V.), (2008) 447 A.R. 282 (QB)
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    ...R. v. Kang-Brown (G.). R. v. Fash (D.M.) (1999), 244 A.R. 146; 209 W.A.C. 146; 1999 ABCA 267, refd to. [para. 47]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291; 2003 ABCA 251, refd to. [para. R. v. Makhmudov (R.) et al. (2007), 417 A.R. 228; 410 W.A.C. 228; 2007 ABCA 248, refd to......
  • R. v. Kang-Brown (G.), (2006) 391 A.R. 218 (CA)
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    • May 9, 2006
    ...v. Daley (I.M.) (2001), 281 A.R. 262; 248 W.A.C. 262; 156 C.C.C.(3d) 225; 2001 ABCA 155, refd to. [paras. 21, 126]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291; 2003 ABCA 251, refd to. [para. R. v. Tessling (W.) (2003), 168 O.A.C. 124; 171 C.C.C.(3d) 361 (C.A.), refd to. [paras.......
  • R. v. Mercer (R.S.), 2004 ABPC 94
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    • March 24, 2004
    ...63; 299 W.A.C. 63 (C.A.), dist. [para. 15]. R. v. Yuen (G.M.-C.) (2003), 345 A.R. 305 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 15]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2003), 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.) (2004), 346 A.R. 67; 320 W.A.C. 67 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15]. Southam ......
  • R. v. Ly (T.K.), (2005) 414 A.R. 343 (QB)
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    ...14]. R. v. Fegan (J.J.) (1993), 62 O.A.C. 146; 80 C.C.C.(3d) 356; 13 O.R.(3d) 88 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14]. R. v. Hoang (T.V.), [2004] 7 W.W.R. 663; 339 A.R. 291; 312 W.A.C. 291 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14]. R. v. Taillefer (B.), [2003] 3 S.C.R. 307; 313 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 14]. B. v. ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
2 books & journal articles
  • Table of cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Ethics and Criminal Law. Second Edition
    • June 19, 2015
    ...R v Hirschboltz, 2004 SKQB 17 .......................................................................... 194 R v Hoang, 2003 ABCA 251 .................................................................429, 430, 434 R v Hofung (2001), 53 OR (3d) 535, 154 CCC (3d) 257, [2001] OJ No 1342 (CA) ........
  • Plea Discussions
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Ethics and Criminal Law. Second Edition
    • June 19, 2015
    ...above note 6 at paras 43 and 70; R v RT (1992), 17 CR (4th) 247 at para 13 (Ont CA) [ RT ]; Duong , above note 6 at para 12; R v Hoang , 2003 ABCA 251 at para 17 [ Hoang ]; R v Messervey , 2010 NSCA 55 at para 56 [ Messervey ]; R v Brown , 2006 PESCAD 17 at para 37 [ Brown ]. 8 See DMG , ab......

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