R. v. Keleher, Green and Molasky, (1991) 115 N.B.R.(2d) 101 (PC)

• Judge: Brien, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: March 19, 1991
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1991), 115 N.B.R.(2d) 101 (PC)

R. v. Keleher (1991), 115 N.B.R.(2d) 101 (PC);

    115 R.N.-B.(2e) 101; 291 A.P.R. 101

MLB headnote and full text

[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. Michael Anthony Keleher, Anthony Reginald Green and Allan John Molasky

Indexed As: R. v. Keleher, Green and Molasky

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Judicial District of Saint John

Brien, P.C.J.

March 19, 1991.

Summary:

The accused were charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court acquitted them on finding that the element of possession was not proved.

Narcotic Control - Topic 577

Offences - Possession - Constructive possession - Keleher rented an apartment - Green and Molasky were observed using it on an evening - From police observation of their activities, cocaine in baggie cor­ners was found in the woods and matching baggies were found in the apartment - During the raid Molasky was seen flushing white packets down the toilet - The New Brunswick Provincial Court acquitted the three of possession of cocaine upon find­ing that the evidence did not establish their possession of the cocaine in the woods.

Cases Noticed:

Beaver v. R. (1957), 118 C.C.C. 129, appld. [para. 18].

R. v. Terrence, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 357; 47 N.R. 8, appld. [para. 20].

R. v. Breau (1987), 76 N.B.R.(2d) 367; 192 A.P.R. 367, appld. [para. 23].

R. v. Hogg (1948), 92 C.C.C. 257, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. O'Keefe (1958), 121 C.C.C. 273, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Kuhn (No. 1) (1973), 15 C.C.C.(2d) 17, refd to. [para. 24].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985 c. C-46, sect. 4(3) [para. 17].

Narcotic Control Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-1, sect. 4(2).

Counsel:

Stephen Smith, for the Crown;

J. David Kelly, for the accused Keleher;

Henrick Tonning; for the accused Green;

David N. Rogers, for the accused Molasky.

This case was heard before Brien, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, Judicial District of Saint John, who delivered the following judgment on March 19, 1991.