R. v. Kenny (D.), (1991) 89 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (NFTD)

• Judge: L.D. Barry, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
• Case Date: March 22, 1991
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (1991), 89 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (NFTD)

R. v. Kenny (D.) (1991), 89 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (NFTD);

    278 A.P.R. 240

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Douglas Kenny

(1991 St. J. No. 0359)

Indexed As: R. v. Kenny (D.)

Newfoundland Supreme Court

Trial Division

L.D. Barry, J.

March 22, 1991.

Summary:

An accused was charged with nine counts of indecent assault, three counts of gross indecency and two counts of causing bodily harm. The offences involved ten young males and occurred over a seven year period thirteen years earlier. The accused submitted that the indictment failed to disclose sufficient particulars to allow a defence. The accused applied for a stay of proceedings on the ground his s. 11 Charter rights were contravened; for the quashing of the indictment under s. 601 of the Criminal Code on the ground it was defective in substance; for an amendment of the indictment; or that the Crown be ordered to furnish particulars pursuant to s. 587 of the Code.

The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, ordered the Crown to furnish particulars to the accused.

Civil Rights - Topic 3133

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Criminal proceedings - Right of accused to make full answer and defence - The accused was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault, gross indecency and assault causing bodily harm - The offences occurred between 1971 and 1978 and involved males from 5 to 12 years of age - The accused was given a copy of a police report from 1976 as well as summaries from proposed testimony in 1989 - Following the preliminary inquiry, the accused applied to have the proceeding stayed on the ground his s. 11 Charter rights were contravened because he was not given sufficient information concerning the charges within a reasonable time - The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, declined to stay the proceeding - See paragraphs 22 to 35 and 64.

Civil Rights - Topic 8374

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Stay of proceedings - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3133 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8403

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Criminal proceedings - Stay of proceedings - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3133 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8405

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Criminal proceedings - Right to be informed of specific offence charged - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3133 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 612

Sexual offences - Indecent assault - Elements - An accused was charged with, inter alia, multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency involving young males over a seven year period - The accused submitted that the indictment should be quashed or amended because it failed to disclose sufficient particulars to allow a defence - The accused also claimed the charges were duplicitous - The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, dismissed the accused's request to either quash or amend - However, the court did order the Crown to furnish particulars - See paragraphs 63 to 72.

Criminal Law - Topic 697

Sexual offences - Gross indecency - [See Criminal Law - Topic 612 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4529

Procedure - Particulars - Sufficiency of - [See Criminal Law - Topic 612 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4722

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Validity of - [See Criminal Law - Topic 612 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4731

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Form and content - Date and description of offence - An accused submitted that an indictment should be quashed under s. 601(1) of the Code because it failed to disclose sufficient information to allow a defence - The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, held that an indictment was valid as long as it set out the place, the time, the victim and the offence - See paragraph 63.

Criminal Law - Topic 4731

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Form and content - Date and description of offence - [See Criminal Law - Topic 612 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4735

Procedure - Information or indictment - Charge or count - Indictable offences - Form and content - Duplicity - An accused was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency involving young males over a period of seven years - The accused submitted that the indictment was duplicitous - The Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, held that the indictment was not duplicitous - See paragraphs 47, 48 and 71.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. English et al. (1989), 79 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 246 A.P.R. 181, affd. 85 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 314; 266 A.P.R. 314, refd to. [para. 11].

Myhren v. R. (1985), 48 C.R.(3d) 270 (N.W.T.S.C.), consd. [para. 23].

R. v. Coté, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 8; 13 N.R 271; 40 C.R.N.S. 308, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Dennis, Kubin and Frank (1983), 48 A.R. 48; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 411 (N.W.T. S.C.), affd. 55 A.R. 366; 15 C.C.C.(3d) 527 (N.W.T.C.A.), consd. [para. 25].

R. v. Lucas (1983), 57 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 120 A.P.R. 159; 6 C.C.C.(3d) 147 (C.A.), consd. [para. 29].

R. v. Bickford (1990), 83 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 41; 260 A.P.R. 41 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. G.B. et al. (No. 2), [1990] 2 S.C.R. 30; 111 N.R. 31; 86 Sask.R. 111; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 200, appld. [para. 32].

R. v. Burke (1988), 71 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 217; 220 A.P.R. 217 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Ryan and Charbonneau (1985), 12 O.A.C. 172 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Cook (1985), 20 C.C.C.(3d) 18 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. R.I.C. (1986), 17 O.A.C. 354; 32 C.C.C.(3d) 399 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Desjardins et al. (No. 5) (1991), 88 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 149; 274 A.P.R. 149, consd. [para. 35].

Brodie v. R. (1936), 65 C.C.C. 289 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 41].

R. v. Bingo Enterprises Ltd., Vaseleniuk and Marois (1984), 29 Man.R.(2d) 78; 41 C.R.(3d) 291 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

A.G. Alta. v. Chisholm, P.C.J. and Johnson (1983), 48 A.R. 173; 35 C.R.(3d) 385 (Q.B.), consd. [para. 43].

A.G. v. Cruz and Vicario (1978), 5 C.R.(3d) 95 (B.C.S.C.), consd. [para. 45].

R. v. A.J.B. (1990), 80 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 76; 249 A.P.R. 76 (Nfld. P.C.), consd. [para. 45].

R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353, consd. [para. 48].

R. v. Colgan (1986), 43 Man.R.(2d) 101; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 183, affd. 79 N.R. 350; 50 Man.R.(2d) 128; 38 C.C.C.(3d) 576, consd. [para. 57].

Re MacLean and R. (1988), 45 C.C.C.(3d) 185 (B.C.C.A.), consd. [para. 59].

R. v. St. Pierre (1974), 17 C.C.C.(2d) 489 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 62].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7 [para. 19]; sect. 11(a), sect. 11(d) [para. 20]; sect. 24(1) [para. 21].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 581(1), sect. 581(2), sect. 581(3), sect. 581(6) [para. 36]; sect. 583(f), sect. 583(g) [para. 65]; sect. 587(1)(f), sect. 587(3)(c) [para. 67]; sect. 601(1) [para. 37]; sect. 601(3), sect. 601(4) [para. 66].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Salhany, Canadian Criminal Procedure (5th Ed. 1989), pp. 193-194, 196 [para. 46]; 200-202 [para. 49].

Counsel:

Catherine Knox, for the Crown;

Derek Green and Jack Lavers, for the accused.

This matter was heard on February 28, March 1, 4, 8, and 11, 1991, by L.D. Barry, J., of the Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Division, in St. John's, who filed the following judgment on March 22, 1991.